Are the next rail strikes confirmed?

[Howardh]

Rail strikes in October to target Conservative conference

Train operators are understood to have been notified of two 24-hour walkouts on 1 and 5 October

www.theguardian.com

Operators are understood to have been notified of two 24-hour walkouts on 1 and 5 October, which would affect services across the country and bring rail chaos at the beginning and end of the Conservative party conference in Birmingham.

I've emboldened "understood" which is why I'm asking if it's a done deal?

 

[Dr Hoo]

This was on the BBC News earlier. It seemed that ASLEF are ‘making it known’ (to ‘comply’ with the 14-day notice obligation) but not actually ‘announcing’ it out of respect to Her Late Majesty during the mourning period.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

October 1st and 5th from what I've heard..

 

[Andyh82]

This was on the BBC News earlier. It seemed that ASLEF are ‘making it known’ (to ‘comply’ with the 14-day notice obligation) but not actually ‘announcing’ it out of respect to Her Late Majesty during the mourning period.

Could they not wait until after the mourning period and then announce one 14 days after that, what’s special about the 1st October?

 

[Tim456]

Day before the Tory party conference in Birmingham.

 

[theking]

Could they not wait until after the mourning period and then announce one 14 days after that, what’s special about the 1st October?

The union hasn't announced anything the TOC's and the government have leaked it

 

[yorkie]

People need as much notice as possible; once the date is decided it needs to be put out to passengers ASAP.

 

[Howardh]

I've booked my hotel airport hotel anyway, if there isn't a strike then I can always cancel. The dates (as mentioned) coinside with the start/end of the Tory conference...no surprise there...but with it being Birmingham most will travel up the day before and return the day after?

 

[yorkie]

I've booked my hotel airport hotel anyway, if there isn't a strike then I can always cancel. The dates (as mentioned) coinside with the start/end of the Tory conference...no surprise there...but with it being Birmingham most will travel up the day before and return the day after?

Exactly, yes.

 

[Howardh]

Exactly, yes.

Has Saturday 1st any pre-planned engineering work that would have made it more difficult to get to Birmingham by rail? Thinking many delegates would have chosen not to use the train anyway if going up on the day?

 

[The Planner]

Has Saturday 1st any pre-planned engineering work that would have made it more difficult to get to Birmingham by rail? Thinking many delegates would have chosen not to use the train anyway if going up on the day?

Cov corridor could well be blocked that weekend.

 

[Howardh]

The article doesn't specifically name "Northern" but I assume they will strike too (or be severely affected)??

Rail strikes in October to target Conservative conference

Train operators are understood to have been notified of two 24-hour walkouts on 1 and 5 October

www.theguardian.com

The operators affected, who are unlikely to run any trains on strike days, include Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, CrossCountry and West Midlands Trains, all of which directly serve Birmingham, where the Conservatives will hold their annual conference, the first under Liz Truss’s leadership.

The other firms at which drivers will strike are Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, LNER, London Overground, Northern, Southeastern and TransPennine Express.

 

[footprints]

October 1st and 5th from what I've heard..

Couldn't wait until the end of the period of mourning before notifying the train operating companies of the next walkout...

And striking the day before the London Marathon when tens of thousands of people will be trying to get to London to raise money for charity.

Not a great look for Aslef.

 

[800001]

Has Saturday 1st any pre-planned engineering work that would have made it more difficult to get to Birmingham by rail? Thinking many delegates would have chosen not to use the train anyway if going up on the day?

Diverts via Carlisle for LNER as line shut between Newcastle and Edinburgh, so I imagine nothing will run via Carlisle.

 

[George1066]

Couldn't wait until the end of the period of mourning before notifying the train operating companies of the next walkout...

And striking the day before the London Marathon when tens of thousands of people will be trying to get to London to raise money for charity.

Not a great look for Aslef.

They gave 14 days notice too the TOCs today too comply with anti-union trade laws. It is the TOCs that have leaked to the media, ASLEF we’re going too announce publically on Tuesday . So get your facts straight before spouting garbage.

 

[footprints]

They gave 14 days notice too the TOCs today too comply with anti-union trade laws. It is the TOCs that have leaked to the media, ASLEF we’re going too announce publically on Tuesday . So get your facts straight before spouting garbage.

I didn't say anything about the media.

Aslef could have waited until the end of the period of national mourning before notifying the train operating companies of their next strike dates. Evidently striking on 1 October was more important to them than waiting three more days and respecting that.

And for what? I'm sure the Tories will be hugely inconvenienced getting their chauffeur driven limos to Birmingham instead of a delayed or cancelled overcrowded Avanti train.

Meanwhile, if any of the tens of thousands of people who have trained for months to run the London Marathon are now unable to make it to London to raise money for their chosen charities, I guess that's just too bad. Of all the events to target, choosing that one is about as low as it gets.

 

[xydancer]

For once, credit to whoever it was (there were no doubt many hands involved) for releasing the information. Did anyone seriously believe it wouldn't get out before Tuesday anyway, officially or otherwise? Even late on Friday in a period of national mourning when people's thoughts are elsewhere? And it at least gives customers a few more days notice and time to make alternative arrangements. I'm assuming here that customers actually matter. Imagine the hoo-ha if it were later revealed the TOCs had known three days before saying anything - and presumably still taking bookings, since closing them would rather have given the game away.

 

[Falcon1200]

They gave 14 days notice too the TOCs today too comply with anti-union trade laws. It is the TOCs that have leaked to the media, ASLEF we’re going too announce publically on Tuesday

Who on earth thinks the TOCs would agree to keep strike dates secret so that ASLEF don't look bad? The railway's customers deserve to be told as soon as possible.

 

[dk1]

Could they not wait until after the mourning period and then announce one 14 days after that, what’s special about the 1st October?

No as it wouldn’t be staged on the intended date.

 

[ExRes]

They gave 14 days notice too the TOCs today too comply with anti-union trade laws. It is the TOCs that have leaked to the media, ASLEF we’re going too announce publically on Tuesday . So get your facts straight before spouting garbage.

'Leaked it' .... what are you on? It's ASLEF going out on strike against the TOCs, why would the TOCs not make the date immediately known?

 

[gazzaa2]

Why does it always have to be a Saturday?

 

[dk1]

Why does it always have to be a Saturday?

Causes a great deal of disruption for a lot of people now so makes sense to choose Saturdays.

 

[trainophile]

Knowingly selling tickets for strike days will result in a whole lot more admin work doing the refunds.

 

[matthewjohnson]

What are the chances of the 23:08 TPE from Hull to Leeds running on the 30th? Arrives into Leeds at just after midnight on the 1st

 

[JonathanH]

What are the chances of the 23:08 TPE from Hull to Leeds running on the 30th? Arrives into Leeds at just after midnight on the 1st

If it follows the approach of previous strikes, it won't affect such services. The strikes are generally based on when staff clock on. They complete shifts that start the previous day.

 

[dk1]

What are the chances of the 23:08 TPE from Hull to Leeds running on the 30th? Arrives into Leeds at just after midnight on the 1st

If it was any other than TPE or Avanti then I’d say the strike has no bearing on trains the night before but these TOCs institutionally unreliable.

 

[Timetraveller]

RMT strike is also on 1st October for 24 hours , so later start of services on Sunday 2nd.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Well that's one way to eliminate people's good will in a single stroke.

Announce the dates before the funeral AND affect people taking part in and watching the London Marathon due to the later start of services on the Sunday.

 

[alastair]

They gave 14 days notice too the TOCs today too comply with anti-union trade laws. It is the TOCs that have leaked to the media, ASLEF we’re going too announce publically on Tuesday . So get your facts straight before spouting garbage.

Why is needing 14 days notice "anti-union"? What notice period would you favour?

 

[LittleAH]

They gave 14 days notice too the TOCs today too comply with anti-union trade laws. It is the TOCs that have leaked to the media, ASLEF we’re going too announce publically on Tuesday . So get your facts straight before spouting garbage.

Leaked it to the media? As soon as notice is given then passengers need to be informed.

Unions have dropped a clanger here.