Commuters face morning rush hour misery AGAIN – some FOUR days after strikes cancelled

Commuters faced yet more rail chaos today as a lack of drivers forced train companies to run a reduced service – despite strikes being called off four days ago.

A limited timetable is running on multiple lines this morning due to the change coming at such short notice, leaving passengers furious as they once again faced a difficult journey into work.

Southwestern Railway was one of the affected routes today as it warned first services would be ‘much later than usual’ and ‘likely to be very busy.’ It told commuters to avoid travelling before 8am, but said it hoped for a fully operational service later in the day and all day on Wednesday. 

Southern Rail, Great Northern, Thameslink and Chiltern Railways also said its services would be starting later than usual, with customers told to check before they travel. 

Meanwhile, there was no Gatwick Express service before 7am and Avanti West Coast said its timetable would be ‘significantly reduced’, with customers permitted full refunds from November 5 to 10.  

The travel misery will continue later this week when 10,000 RMT members from the London Underground and Overground services walk out Thursday.  

Explaining today’s chaos, South Western Railways said: ‘We understand our customers’ frustration at the late startup caused by the now-cancelled RMT strike action.

‘Timetables are meticulously planned to ensure trains run safely, have to be coordinated by Network Rail nationally and are finalised a week in advance.

‘We’re sorry for the ongoing disruption during this period of extended industrial action and are working hard to get as many trains running as usual.’

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) were set to stage walkouts this week in a long running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.

A sign advertising the now-cancelled rail strikes warns passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary

Passengers have been warned to check with train operators before they travel with some still running a reduced timetable due to the change coming at such short notice

But RMT suspended the strikes on Friday, saying it had secured ‘unconditional’ talks with Network Rail (NR) and the promise of a pay offer from the train operating companies.

Great Northern rail told travellers on Tuesday that there would be no services before 7am, with some routes starting later than this. 

It comes after claims that some staff ‘spent the weekend doing nothing on full pay’.

While there is a shortage of drivers, the Independent reported that much of the railway will still be fully staffed this week.

This includes at signal boxes, even though no trains are scheduled, while guards are being paid to sit in mess rooms due to the lack of services, and staff are remaining at desks in ticket offices at deserted stations, the website says. 

The RMT insisted on Monday that the dispute remains ‘very much live’ and it is continuing its re-ballot of members to secure a fresh mandate for action with the result due on 15 November.

Talks will now be held over the next few weeks to try to resolve the dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘The threat of strike action and our strongly supported industrial campaign has made the rail employers see sense.

‘We have always wanted to secure a negotiated settlement and that is what we will continue to push for in this next phase of intensive talks.

‘Our priority is our members, and we are working towards securing a deal on job security, a decent pay rise and good working conditions.

 ‘Our re-ballot remains live and if we have to take strike action during the next six months to secure a deal, we will.’

The RMT said NR had originally declared discussions and consultations closed and was intent on imposing changes to maintenance without agreement with the union.

‘They have now rowed back and will continue discussions on the basis that ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.’

‘This takes away the reason for the current phase of action and means talks can continue without pre-conditions unilaterally set down by the company,’ said the RMT.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the suspension of the strikes was a ‘positive development’, adding: ‘We encourage unions and employers to continue their negotiations and calling off these strikes has given those talks a better chance of success.

‘It is vital, for passengers and workers alike, that all parties continue to work together and deliver a modern railway we can all be proud of.’

The TSSA announced it was calling off its planned rail strikes on November 5, 7, 8 and 9 after receiving an invitation to ‘intensive talks’ from the Rail Delivery Group.

TSSA members were due to take strike action in five different rail companies on different days over the period.

Interim general secretary Frank Ward said: ‘We have always said that strikes are a last resort, and we are glad to finally be invited to the first set of formal talks with train operators in months.’