Search News
Find the latest news from the rail industry
Rail News
Increasing to 100 Kmph, a major challenge for Delhi metro engineers
RailFactor Exclusive 22 March 2023 (India) For the engineers of Delhi Metro, bringing the Airport Express Link's operational speed up to 100 KMPH posed a significant engineering task. The key accomplishments of this enormous endeavour included careful planning, 24-hour supervision, and a determination to avoid having the work interfere with passenger operations. One of the most difficult technological developments in the country's annals of Metro train operations will be this. The goal was only reached within six months, far ahead of the anticipated deadlines, thanks to a detailed mechanism for the replacement of some rail components, maintenance and repair of civil structures, and re-profiling of some Rolling stock components. The increase in operational speed required numerous track-related maintenance tasks to ensure that passengers would experience the least amount of inconvenience possible, making it a historic technical development in Metro train operations. In order to make them more compatible with the revised speed strength, the main activity included replacing more than 2.6 lakh existing tension clamps on the rails throughout the complete AEL network with high-frequency tension clamps. Source https://www.delhimetrorail.com/pages/en/pressrelease_details/increasing-to-100-kmph-a-major-challenge-for-delhi
14 hrs ago
Read MoreGermany gives green light to €49-a-month public transport ticket
The Guardian 17 March 2023 (Germany) Plan for ticket covering regional rail, metro, trams and buses across country follows success of €9 scheme last year A follow-up to Germany’s immensely popular €9 (£7.90) monthly public transport ticket scheme has been given the green light in the Bundestag, in a move aimed at getting passengers to switch to greener forms of transport. Parliamentarians on Thursday voted to approve plans to introduce a €49-a-month ticket covering regional rail, metro, trams and bus travel across Germany. The vote in parliament cleared the way for the national government to cover half of the scheme’s annual cost of €3bn for the next three years, with the other half paid for by Germany’s 16 federal states. If, as expected, the €49 ticket is given the seal of approval by the German parliament’s upper house, the Bundesrat, on 31 March, the scheme will come into effect on 1 May. The transport minister, Volker Wissing, hailed the new ticket scheme as a “role model for the whole of Europe” that would boost public transport use. Wissing, of the liberal Free Democratic party (FDP), has been under fire over the transport sector’s failure to meet carbon reduction targets. The original €9-a-month ticket scheme was put in place from June to the end of August last year to incentivise travellers to switch to greener forms of transport and give financial relief to consumers facing a cost of living crisis. With about half of Germany’s adult population having taking part in the scheme that the government subsidised with €2.5bn, the ticket was as popular as it was inexpensive. Whether it had a significant positive impact on the environment has been questioned: most Germans used the €9 ticket to travel around the country for leisure, while there has been little statistical evidence showing that those who commute by car changed their transport routines in any meaningful way. The new ticket – being called “Germany ticket” by the government – is hence designed to be most attractive to people who commute in and out of larger cities, where old subscription-based discount schemes are mostly more expensive than €49 a month. The ticket, available in digital form via a smartphone app or as a chip card, will work on a subscription model that can be cancelled before the 10th day of each month, meaning it may still pay off as a one-off investment for some holidays or weekend trips. Long-distance coaches and trains such as those on the high-speed ICE network are not included in the scheme. Due to Germany’s decentralised political system, tickets bought in different cities or regions will come with different rules and add-ons. In the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, people travelling on a €49 ticket can also take a bicycle and a dog no bigger than a cat on the train with them for free. In and around the southern city of Stuttgart, travellers can transfer their ticket subscription to friends, relatives or colleagues if they pay an additional €9.90. States such as Bavaria are offering discounts for students, trainees and those doing voluntary service, who will only have to pay €29 a month. Source https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/17/germany-gives-green-light-new-monthly-public-transport-ticket
15 hrs ago
Read MoreGermany at a standstill as huge strike halts planes and trains
Reuters March 27, 2023 (Germany) Airports and bus and train stations across Germany were at a standstill on Monday, causing disruption for millions of people during one of the largest walkouts in decades in Europe's biggest economy as soaring inflation stokes wage demands. The 24-hour "warning" strikes called by the Verdi union and railway and transport union EVG were the latest in months of industrial action which has hit major European economies as higher food and energy prices dent living standards. They kicked off three days of wage talks which could lead to further strikes if they fail to yield a compromise. Employers have offered 5% more wages over a period of 27 months and a one-off payment of 2,500 euros ($2,700) - proposals unions, which are calling for a double digit rise, call unacceptable amid inflation which reached 9.3% in February. Verdi is demanding a 10.5% wage increase, which would see pay rising by at least 500 euros per month, while EVG is asking for a 12% raise or at least 650 euros per month. "Employees are fed up with being fobbed off with warm words while work conditions get ever worse and there are many vacant posts," Verdi Chief Frank Werneke told reporters. Striking workers wearing high-vis jackets blew horns and whistles, held up banners and waved flags during protests. Germany, which was heavily dependent on Russia for gas before the war in Ukraine, has been particularly hard hit by higher prices, with inflation rates exceeding the euro-area average in recent months. Worsening chronic labour shortages give unions a strong negotiating hand, economists say. The walkout is the biggest in Germany, which has a long history of collective wage bargaining, since 1992, according to Verdi. The Airports Association ADV estimated that 380,000 air passengers were affected by flight suspensions including at two of Germany's largest airports in Munich and Frankfurt, with stranded travellers sleeping on benches. Rail services were also cancelled by railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DBN.UL). In Cologne, the lack of city trains prompted a dash for taxis. "Millions of passengers who depend on buses and trains are suffering from this excessive, exaggerated strike," a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson said. Verdi is negotiating on behalf of around 2.5 million employees in the public sector, including in public transport and at airports, while EVG negotiates for around 230,000 employees at Deutsche Bahn and bus companies. Stranded passengers expressed both sympathy and unhappiness about the strike action. "Yes, it's justified but I for one never went on strike in my entire life and I have been working for more than 40 years. At the same time, in France they go on strike all the time about something," said passenger Lars Boehm. Germamy's union strife pales in comparison with protests against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms in France which have sparked the worst street violence in years. MORE STRIKES Persistent cost pressures have pushed central banks to a series of interest rate increases but policymakers say they have no so far seen signs of a destabilising price-wage spiral. "This catching up that we see today, still with negative real wage increases, is compatible with what we would expect for monetary policy purposes," Portuguese central bank Governor Mario Centeno said on Monday. Sharp wage increases could squeeze the fiscal room for manoeuvre for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government, making already fractious budget negotiations more difficult. The interior ministry said the demands were equivalent to extra costs of 1.4 billion euros per year - and if that wage agreement were extended to other public sector workers as well as retired civil servants, judges and soldiers, it would equal 4.7 billion euros in total. Employers are also warning that higher wages for transport workers would result in increased fares. EVG chairman Martin Burkert warned further strikes were possible, including over the Easter holiday period. "People have second or third jobs to make ends meet," striking worker Christoph Gerschner said. Data presented to ECB policymakers last month and reported on exclusively by Reuters showed that companies were raising prices in excess of their costs at the expense of consumers and wage earners. Commerzbank Chief Economist Joerg Kraemer said the economic impact of Monday's strike on Germany's 181-million-euro ($194-million)-a-day transport sector was limited so far but this could change if the strikes persisted. "The losses are likely to be limited to the transportation industry because factories will continue to operate and many employees will be working from home." ($1 = 0.9293 euros) Source https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/largest-strike-decades-leaves-germany-standstill-2023-03-27/
15 hrs ago
Read MoreTransitLink, EZ-Link apps to merge; commuters to get one-stop access to bus, MRT fare payment services
Straits Times 28 March 2023 (Singapore) Commuters using services offered by TransitLink and EZ-Link will no longer need to access separate mobile applications or deal with different customer support teams once a move to consolidate the two companies is complete. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Tuesday that its two wholly-owned subsidiaries will be integrating their ticketing and travel card-related services into one app, with a view of eventually merging the companies into a single entity in the second half of 2024. This will further simplify the experience for commuters when paying for bus and MRT rides, which can involve confusing processes. For instance, commuters can buy and top up their ez-link cards via both EZ-Link and TransitLink, but they deal only with EZ-Link for specific functions, such as card blocking and automatic top-ups. “Unifying all transit ticketing and travel card-related services will provide a one-stop customer service touchpoint for commuters,” LTA said in a statement, adding that more details will be announced when plans are finalised. “While the consolidation... is taking place, commuters can continue to approach TransitLink and EZ-Link for their respective services. Commuters may also continue using their existing mobile applications, and there will be no change to how commuters pay their fares,” LTA said. TransitLink and EZ-Link were set up by LTA for different purposes – the former in 1987 to process fare transactions and ticketing for public transport, including the topping-up of travel cards, and the latter company in 2002 to oversee the sale, distribution and management of ez-link cards. LTA said these services became closely related after the launch in 2019 of SimplyGo, an account-based system that allows commuters to pay for train and bus rides using their bank cards. Those with upgraded ez-link and concession cards can also top up their cards while on the go. Because of SimplyGo, TransitLink and EZ-Link now provide some of the same services on their mobile apps, including card top-ups and travel expenditure tracking. But there are also services that are available on only one app. For instance, students and seniors can apply for a concession card using only the TransitLink SimplyGo app, but concession cards that support SimplyGo can be blocked using only EZ-Link’s app. The two companies also operate separate call centres here, even though some of their services overlap. Given the evolution of the transit payment landscape, LTA said on Tuesday that the integration of TransitLink and EZ-Link’s services is timely. Half of all adult public transport trips are currently made using SimplyGo, and adoption is expected to grow as more categories of concession cards are upgraded to support it. Meanwhile, the merger of TransitLink and EZ-Link – which is subject to regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore – will unlock new innovation and business opportunities, LTA added. New job roles may be created and staff may be redeployed to these roles, but no jobs will be cut as a result of the merger, LTA said. Transit Link has more than 300 employees, and EZ-Link has more than 100. Said LTA chief executive Ng Lang: “We will work closely with TransitLink and EZ-Link in the restructuring process to ensure a smooth transition for staff and commuters.” Source https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/transitlink-ez-link-apps-to-merge-commuters-to-get-one-stop-access-to-bus-mrt-fare-payment-services
15 hrs ago
Read MoreStation to get upgrade cash in chunks
BBC 23 March 2023 (UK) Almost £48m of government funding will be delivered in £5m instalments to regenerate a city's station quarter. The money, from the Levelling Up fund, will be spent on building new entrances and a footbridge at Peterborough railway station. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is in charge of delivering the project. Work is expected to start in 2025. The project, with additional funding from Peterborough City Council and other partners, is expected to cost about £65m, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Extended platform canopies and improvements to pedestrian and cycle links are also planned. A progress report after each instalment of government money will need to be submitted as part of the deal. A new electric bus depot is also being considered for a site on Nursery Lane in the city's Fengate area, which could cost a further £20m. If that project goes ahead, it is also expected to receive Levelling Up funding. Source https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ck5erp6415yo
16 hrs ago
Read MoreItalian luxury passenger trains will be outfitted by Knorr-Bremse
RailFactor Exclusive March 14, 2023 (Italy) A supply deal for rail vehicle systems for Orient Express's "La Dolce Vita" luxury trains has been signed by ARSENALE Express S.p.A. and Knorr-Bremse. There will be two trains, each with 11 cars, that will be used for opulent, "slow travel" excursions to many of Italy's most famous areas and scenic locations. Knorr-Bremse's order volume is in the low double-digit million euro level. Two Orient Express "La Dolce Vita" trains will be outfitted by Knorr-Bremse at the request of Rome-based ARSENALE Express S.p.A. Beginning in the third quarter of 2023, Knorr-Bremse will offer cutting-edge braking technology along with entrance, temperature control, and sanitary systems, assisting in the creation of a secure, comfortable, and sustainable travelling environment. Source https://www.knorr-bremse.com/en/media/press-releases/knorr-bremse-to-equip-luxury-passenger-trains-in-italy.json
2 days ago
Read MoreGermany braces for transport 'mega-strike'
Channel News Asia 27 March 2023 (Germany) Transport staff across Germany are set to stage a major strike on Monday (Mar 27) to push for wage hikes in the face of brisk inflation, as passengers brace for serious disruptions. Workers at airports, ports, railways, buses and metro lines throughout much of Europe's top economy are expected to heed a call by the Verdi and EVG unions to the 24-hour walkout. "A labour struggle that has no impact is toothless," Verdi chief Frank Werneke told public broadcaster Phoenix. He acknowledged that it would inflict pain on many commuters and holidaymakers, "but better one day of strain with the prospect of reaching a wage agreement than weeks of industrial action". To prevent supply gaps, Transport Minister Volker Wissing has ordered states to lift restrictions on truck deliveries Sunday, while asking airports to allow late-night takeoffs and landings "so stranded passengers can reach their destinations". Verdi represents about 2.5 million public sector employees, while EVG represents 230,000 workers on the railways and at bus companies. The rare joint call for a strike in Germany marks an escalation of an increasingly ill-tempered dispute over a pay packet to blunt the impact of surging inflation. Employers, mostly the state and public sector companies, have so far refused the demands, instead offering a rise of 5 per cent with two one-off payments of €1,000 (US$1,100) and €1,500, this year and next. Verdi is demanding a rise of 10.5 per cent in monthly salaries, while EVG is seeking a 12 per cent rise for those it represents. "MASSIVE IMPACT" State-owned rail company Deutsche Bahn (DB) has completely suspended all long-distance trains for the day and many regional and local connections will be at a standstill. DB's Martin Seiler, responsible for human resources on the company's management board, described the nationwide strike as "groundless and unnecessary" and urged the unions to return to the negotiating table "immediately". The company expects the walkout to have a "massive impact" on its entire rail network and has pledged to inform its customers "as quickly and comprehensively as possible" about cancellations and delays. The German airport association, which estimated about 380,000 air travellers would be affected, said the walkout "went beyond any imaginable and justifiable measure". Employers have accused labour representatives of contributing to a wage-price spiral that will only feed inflation, while unions say their members have been asked to bear the burden of the soaring cost of living. "Petrol and food prices have risen, I'm feeling it in my wallet," Timo Stau, 21, told AFP at a protest on Thursday in Berlin. "ECONOMIC HARDSHIP" Like in many other countries, Germans are struggling with high inflation - it hit 8.7 per cent in February - after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent food and energy costs soaring. The "mega-strike", as local media have dubbed it, follows industrial action in recent months in several German sectors, from the postal service to airports and local transport. A third round of salary negotiations for public-sector workers is due to begin on Monday. Earlier in March, Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg and Hanover airports cancelled more than 350 flights after security staff walked out. Bus and metro staff in Frankfurt also staged a strike. Some unions however have succeeded in winning big pay increases. Postal workers won average monthly increases of 11.5 per cent earlier in March, and in November IG Metall, Germany's biggest union, won hikes totalling 8.5 per cent for almost four million employees that it represents. Although Monday's walkout is set to create travel chaos, it pales in comparison to the industrial disputes rocking neighbouring France, where President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plans have ignited voter anger. Rubbish is gathering in the streets of Paris due to a rolling strike by garbage collectors, while blockades of oil refineries by striking workers are beginning to create fuel shortages around the country. Source: AFP/zl Source https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/germany-transport-mega-strike-wage-hikes-inflation-3376091
2 days ago
Read MoreFuture Suburban Rail Loop funds to hinge on independent federal adviser
The Sydney Morning Herald March 24, 2023 (Australia) Further funding to build Victoria’s $35 billion Suburban Rail Loop will hinge on whether a reformed Commonwealth infrastructure adviser deems it good use of federal dollars, federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King has said. The Albanese government committed $2.2 billion for the massive rail project in its budget last October, but Victoria has based its plans on the Commonwealth paying for a third of its estimated cost, or around $12 billion. Early works have commenced on the rail loop’s first 26-kilometre eastern suburbs section, running underground from Cheltenham to Box Hill. The Andrews government says it will open it to passengers by 2035. Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Melbourne on Friday, King said she would look to advice from the independent adviser, Infrastructure Australia, to decide whether to pour more funds into the project. The Albanese government introduced legislation to parliament this week that it said would restore the body as the government’s top adviser on where to direct billions in spending. “The Suburban Rail Loop will be one of the projects, in terms of future funding, that I would expect a stronger, more capable … Infrastructure Australia to be able to provide that advice on going into a budget cycle,” King said. “Suburban Rail is obviously one of the really big projects which will necessitate the state working very closely with the revised Infrastructure Australia, if we get the legislation through parliament.” King said Infrastructure Australia had become “divorced” from Commonwealth budget decisions and needed to return to its intended role as a source of independent advice, alongside that from her department. Victorian Deputy Premier and Suburban Rail Loop Minister Jacinta Allan said the state would work with the reformed Infrastructure Australia to press the merits of the state’s flagship transport project. “I wouldn’t put the cart before the horse and say that that means there isn’t going to be any federal funding coming for the Suburban Rail Loop because they’ve got to go through their own proper processes,” she said. “Importantly, what we have right now is a partnership with the federal government. The $2.2 billion that was committed … means we are underway with early works.” The Andrews government has committed $11.8 billion to the Rail Loop. Its business case outlines splitting the cost three-ways with the Commonwealth and with private sector development contributions. Future stages of the Rail Loop would continue north to Melbourne Airport by 2056 and continue west to Werribee, forming a 90-kilometre loop around the city. King told the CEDA Infrastructure Conference on Friday morning that labour shortages, construction industry constraints and cost inflation meant the government needed to make “tough decisions about what not to build and what projects to prioritise”. Source https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/future-suburban-rail-loop-funds-to-hinge-on-independent-federal-advisor-20230324-p5cuzz.html
2 days ago
Read MoreAvanti West Coast extension was right move, MP says
BBC 26 March 2023 (UK) Extending the contract of under-fire rail operator Avanti West Coast was the right decision, but the company still has "a long way to go", an MP has said. The firm was given a six-month extension by the government last week despite calls for it to be stripped of the franchise after a raft of problems. John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle and chairman of the West Coast Main Line All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), said the firm was making progress. The contract will run until 15 October. Its previous six-month deal - granted by the Department for Transport last October - was due to finish at the end of this month. Avanti, which runs trains to Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, north Wales, Glasgow and Edinburgh, had been told to make urgent improvements after it slashed its timetable last summer when drivers stopped doing overtime and passengers suffered widespread disruption. 'Right approach' Conservative Mr Stevenson told the BBC's Politics North programme the firm had "got a grilling from MPs across the spectrum about the services they provided" when questioned by the APPG last year. "They said they had a new programme starting in December, they said there would be improvements and we are starting to see some, but there is a long way to go. "I think the government's approach, broadly, is right - give them an extension for six months and see if the improvements happen. "If they don't then I think there'd be serious concerns and we'd have to revisit it." Mr Stevenson denied the company had been "rewarded for failure", as claimed by fellow Cumbrian MP Tim Farron earlier this week. Liberal Democrat Mr Farron, who represents Westmorland and Lonsdale, said daily disruption for passengers meant it should be "the final stop for Avanti's contract". But Mr Stevenson said: "What you're seeing is Avanti starting to improve and we've got to keep at them to ensure they don't get rewarded for failure." Following the contract extension announcement, Avanti's parent company First Group said performance was "steadily improving". It added that since the introduction of a new timetable in mid-December, its number of services "increased by more than 40% compared to last summer, with more seats and better frequencies". More than 5% of Avanti's services were cancelled in the four weeks to 3 March, down from 10.5% in the four weeks to 4 February and 18.9% in the four weeks to 7 January. Source https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-65081943
2 days ago
Read MoreTwo migrants suffocate to death aboard Texas train, 10 hospitalized
Reuters March 26, 2023 (US) Two suspected undocumented immigrants suffocated to death aboard a freight train and 10 others in need of medical care were taken by helicopter or ambulance to hospital on Friday in south Texas, police said. Officials in Uvlade, Texas, received an anonymous emergency 911 call advising them that numerous immigrants were suffocating inside a train, Uvalde police said in a statement. At least 15 immigrants needed immediate medical attention, police said. U.S. Border Patrol officials were notified and able to stop the train just east of Knippa, Texas, in Uvalde County, police said. Officials closed U.S. Highway 90 temporarily to land the helicopters. Federal investigators were looking into the possibility of human smuggling, investigators with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said. The tragedy occurred near the site of a more grave incident last year, when 53 migrants died in the back of a tractor trailer amid the sweltering heat during a smuggling attempt. Dozens of migrants were packed into the back of a truck found on the outskirts of San Antonio on June 27. Two Americans have been indicted in federal court in that case and could face the death penalty if convicted. Two Mexicans have been charged with lesser crimes. "We are heartbroken to learn of yet another tragic incident of migrants taking the dangerous journey," Homeland Security Secretary Alejando Mayorkas said on Twitter, vowing to work with local investigators to find those responsible. "Smugglers are callous and only care about making a profit," Mayorkas said. Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez suspected the migrants were dehydrated due to the heat of the train cars during warm weather, KSAT television reported. "It's sad to see that so many undocumented immigrants were found in this condition, and two of them lost their lives. It's heartbreaking," KSAT quoted Rodriguez as saying. The Union Pacific railroad would lead the investigation, Uvalde police said. The Mexican consulate in Eagle Pass, Texas, said on Twitter it was aware of the incident and in communication with U.S. officials to determine if any of the victims were Mexican. Homeland Security had yet to determine the nationalities of the victims or whether any families or children were among them, a department official with knowledge of the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Knippa is about 72 miles (115 km) west of San Antonio and about 120 miles (190 km) from the Mexican border. It is near the town of Uvalde, which was the scene of a mass shooting at an elementary school in May last year that killed 19 school children and two teachers. Source https://www.reuters.com/world/us/least-two-dead-more-injured-texas-train-incident-2023-03-25/
2 days ago
Read MoreJR Tokai eyeing automated shinkansen operations around 2028
Japan Times Mar 25, 2023 (Japan) Central Japan Railway Co., or JR Tokai, plans to introduce an automated operation system for its Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services around 2028, said President Shin Kaneko. A driver will be on board for operations such as starting the train, according to Kaneko, who was speaking at a news conference Friday to announce the plan. The system will be adopted for the newest N700S series shinkansen model, with Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama trains subject to automated operations. Trains using the system will start moving when the driver presses the button. While operations such as emergency stops will be conducted by the driver, the trains will adjust their speed and stop at stations automatically. JR Tokai has been conducting test runs of Tokaido Shinkansen trains equipped with the automated operation system since November 2021. Tokyo Metro Co. said separately Friday that it will start tests of an automated train operation system on its Marunouchi Line in fiscal 2025. A conductor will be on board the first car in place of the driver, according to the subway operator. Source https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/25/business/jr-tokai-automated-operations-shinkansen/
2 days ago
Read MoreTrain strikes planned in March and April suspended
BBC 23 March 2023 (UK) Planned rail strikes in March and April have been called off. RMT union members, including train guards, who work at 14 train companies were set to walk out on 30 March and 1 April. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) - which represents train companies - said it was now focused on "working constructively towards a settlement to this dispute." It comes after RMT members at Network Rail voted to accept a pay deal. The RDG said it was a "welcome step" by the RMT union leaders to call off the planned action. "We are now jointly focused on working constructively towards a settlement to this dispute, which will mean we can do what we have always wanted to do - give our people a pay rise and help secure the long-term future of the railway", a RDG spokesperson said. The RMT, the country's largest rail union, said the proposal tabled by the RDG could lead to a resolution to the national rail dispute. The RDG has not yet made a new or updated offer. But the RMT said the two sides would now hold further talks "with a view to securing a new offer on pay, job security and working conditions". The RMT made clear that the dispute between the train companies and union members had not ended. It said it would continue to prepare to re-ballot members when the current mandates runs out in mid-May. A Department for Transport spokesperson said the "positive step" brought both sides closer to ending the dispute. "After Network Rail employees overwhelmingly voted to accept a similar pay offer earlier this week, we're once again asking the RMT executive to do the right thing and put this fair and reasonable offer to its members, giving them the pay rise they deserve and helping us end this dispute," the spokesperson added. The last rail strike on 18 March saw workers across 14 train operators walk out. It meant that only 40-50% of trains were running, with travellers taking to social media to complain about disruption to their journeys. The ongoing dispute between workers and rail bosses has led to several walkouts since June last year. The UK has seen strikes across several industries over the last twelve months, with workers largely concerned about pay - which has not increased in line with rising prices. Inflation - the rate at which prices rise - is at its highest in nearly four decades. Striking professions have included nurses, junior doctors, civil servants and teachers. Source https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64896128
5 days ago
Read More