Train strikes: Rail bosses unveil map of misery showing how only HALF of Britain’s network will be open next week

RAIL bosses have unveiled a new map of misery showing how only half of Britain’s network will be open next week.

More than 50,000 railway staff will walkout later this month in the biggest dispute on the network in 33 years.

National strikes are planned across British railways starting on Tuesday, June 21, Thursday, June 23, and Saturday, June 25, 2022.

A map shows the lines which will continue operating in and out of London during the affected dates.

Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) workers for 13 rail operators and National rail have planned to stage walk outs.

Network Rail said no passenger services will serve locations such as Penzance in Cornwall, Bournemouth in Dorset, Swansea in South Wales, Holyhead in North Wales, Chester in Cheshire and Blackpool, Lancashire.

Clair Mann, Managing Director of South Western Railway said the “action will mean that many customers will be unable to travel by rail”.

She added: “If customers can change their date of travel, or make alternative arrangements, I urge them to begin making those arrangements as soon as possible.”

A strike is also planned on the London Underground on June 21, which is part of a separate dispute over job losses and pensions.

There are also overnight strikes affecting the Central, Jubilee and Victoria lines on Fridays and Saturdays until Sunday, 19 June, 2022.

Last trains from London on strike days will include Edinburgh: 2pm, Leeds: 3.05pm, Birmingham: 3.43pm, Cardiff: 4.27pm and Brighton: 5.50pm.

Drivers on Hull Trains, Greater Anglia and Croydon Tramlink are set to stage strikes later next week in separate disputes over pay.

Members of Aslef on Hull Trains will strike on June 26, at Greater Anglia on June 23 and on Croydon Tramlink on June 28 and 29.

Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said the strikes have been timed to cause “maximum disruption”.

Tim Shoveller, the organisation’s managing director for the North West and Central region, said: “The service that we can offer to passengers in the mornings is going to be very limited.

“Even on the intermediate days we won’t be able to operate anything like a full service with the normal amount of capacity or frequency of trains.

“That’s what gives rise to effectively six days of disruption.”

‘PAY FREEZE REWARD’

The TSSA said it will ballot hundreds of workers for industrial action at train operator Avanti West Coast in a dispute over pay, conditions and job security.

The strike comes after Network Rail and train operating companies are putting staff on pay freezes and plan to cut thousands of jobs.

RMT claims these cuts will make the railways unsafe.

There have been many talks between the union and organisation to secure a pay proposal or a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, but they have all been unsuccessful.

Head of union, Michael Lynch insisted that they “don’t want to cause misery“.

He said: “We’ve got a cost of living crisis and our workers have been working throughout the pandemic and their reward has been a pay freeze.

“I understand the anger of people – but I also understand the anger of our workers.

“We’re not holding the public hostage – but we’re not going to accept the poverty of our members.

“I would like to find another way other than strike but we’ve been talking to these companies for two years.

“You’re asking us to be passive in the face of aggression.”