Transpennine Express Industrial Action

[Fokx]

The RMT Union and conductor colleagues have escalated their dispute over the Memorandum of Understanding, Rest Day and Sunday Working arrangements at Transpennine Express

Despite the significant work undertaken through constructive dialogue, the negotiations have failed as the company has suspended all further productivity negotiations with the Conductors Company Council until a resolution is reached in relation to the unrelated local matter at Manchester Piccadilly.
The NEC considers it unacceptable that the employer has “paused” productivity talks because of an unrelated local matter, where the employer has attempted imposition in breach of the collective bargaining machinery and caused a breakdown in industrial relations. TransPennine Express has made a series of threats in an attempt at industrial blackmail, and collective punishment in the form of stopping talks cannot be tolerated."

Eddie Dempsey
General Secretary

As such, Industrial action will take place by Transpennine Express conductor colleagues for all shifts starting between the hours of:

0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Sunday 4th October 2026

0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Sunday 11th October 2026

0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Sunday 18th October 2026

0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Sunday 25th October 2026

 

[kw12]

The RMT Union and conductor colleagues have escalated their dispute over the Memorandum of Understanding, Rest Day and Sunday Working arrangements at Transpennine Express



As such, Industrial action will take place by Transpennine Express conductor colleagues for all shifts starting between the hours of:

0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Sunday 4th October 2026

0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Sunday 11th October 2026

0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Sunday 18th October 2026

0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Sunday 25th October 2026

Is this "industrial action" a strike or "industrial action short of a strike"?

What is the matter at Manchester Piccadilly that has prompted the union to call this action?

 

[dodecahedron67]

It’s a strike.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What's the practical impact of this likely to be? No Sunday TPE services running anywhere on the four Sundays in October 2026?

 

[Fokx]

What's the practical impact of this likely to be? No Sunday TPE services running anywhere on the four Sundays in October 2026?

During the last Sunday strikes, there was 1tph between Manchester Piccadilly and York calling at all stations between Manchester and Leeds.

However, due to engineering work services this October will be diverted via Calder Valley and less members of management sign this route option

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 08:59 ==

What is the matter at Manchester Piccadilly that has prompted the union to call this action?

The union has called this action due to a stall in productivity talks that have been going on for the last two years.

The "Piccadilly problem" is a separate, unrelated issue which that is being used as a tool to delay productivity talks, which is why the action has been called.

 

[CHAPS2034]

The "Piccadilly problem" is a separate, unrelated issue which that is being used as a tool to delay productivity talks, which is why the action has been called.

Are you able to say what is the nature of the 'Piccadilly problem'?

 

[Fokx]

Are you able to say what is the nature of the 'Piccadilly problem'?

I don't have all the details but it's related closure of the Transpennine Express OTAP (On Train Accounting Point) due to the transfer of dispatchers and station team leaders to Northern

 

[CHAPS2034]

I don't have all the details but it's related closure of the Transpennine Express OTAP (On Train Accounting Point) due to the transfer of dispatchers and station team leaders to Northern

Thank you

 

[Starmill]

It would appear that Northern have also admitted defeat on the conductor restructuring this week as well. Though there doesn't seem to be any link, so it's likely just a coincidence.

If I were travelling, I would be expecting quite a limited service on both operators on these days.

 

[Sheridan]

It would appear that Northern have also admitted defeat on the conductor restructuring this week as well. Though there doesn't seem to be any link, so it's likely just a coincidence.

If I were travelling, I would be expecting quite a limited service on both operators on these days.

What do you mean by ‘admitted defeat’? Genuinely curious, that to me reads as accepting the traincrew demands, yet this seems like the opposite?

 

[Starmill]

What do you mean by ‘admitted defeat’? Genuinely curious, that to me reads as accepting the traincrew demands, yet this seems like the opposite?

Apologies - what I meant was accepted that the process to bring Sunday working in has been exhausted i.e. the restructuring plan voted upon earlier this year has been abandoned.

 

[Sheridan]

Apologies - what I meant was accepted that the process to bring Sunday working in has been exhausted i.e. the restructuring plan voted upon earlier this year has been abandoned.

Ah, I understand completely, thank you. I admit I wasn’t fully across what was happening with those discussions!

 

[YorkshireBear]

Apologies - what I meant was accepted that the process to bring Sunday working in has been exhausted i.e. the restructuring plan voted upon earlier this year has been abandoned.

I assume it was rejected and Northern can't come up with a compromise both parties are willing to accept?

 

[Bletchleyite]

So that means Northern guards are likely to cease volunteering on Sundays for the foreseeable?

 

[Geeves]

I don't have all the details but it's related closure of the Transpennine Express OTAP (On Train Accounting Point) due to the transfer of dispatchers and station team leaders to Northern

The Northern OTAPs themselves are not a in a very good position right now either. I dont know the process at TPE but I am assuming that TPE guards are now doing everything themselves regards to machines and money?

 

[Starmill]

I assume it was rejected and Northern can't come up with a compromise both parties are willing to accept?

The ballot on the new deal wasn't accepted, but, as it had been split into a two-part question, and one of the two was accepted, there was an unknown over whether there could be a revised deal, yes. However there is no revised deal.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Today at 14:22 ==

So that means Northern guards are likely to cease volunteering on Sundays for the foreseeable?

The current Sunday schedules are likely to continue for the foreseeable, if this is what you mean, yes. If you mean will the ability to resource the reduced schedules, yes this is likely to decrease on TPE strike days and Christmas shopping weekends, as they're even more unattractive to work than a normal one. There's a possibility of improved reliability (against the reduced service) in January.