Jun 21 2022
UK Strike Day One: Almost all out, almost all stop
Solidarity with the strike on the UK railway network has been very high on day one. The members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport trades union (RMT) have been picketing depots, signalling centres and stations across England, Scotland and Wales. They have enjoyed the tacit support of other trades unionists, the public at large and political allies – at least for now.
This is first day of three strike days this week, bringing to a standstill rail operations on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with the knock-on effect of severe disruption all week, especially to passenger operations. The strike is the result of an overwhelming ballot in favour of action to support union claims of pay, conditions and job security, particularly at Network Rail, and also at most passenger train operating companies in England.
Bridge over troubled waters echoes to sounds of silence
The great Victorian architecture of the Dron Valley Viaduct has been echoing to the sound of trains every five minutes for more than a century and a half. Today, the normally busy Midland Main Line, which the nationally listed historic monument has carried since 1870, has been eerily quiet.
Dron Valley Viaduct (Geograph UK and Ireland)
The early morning aggregates train should have heralded the start of a constant flow of commuter, regional and long distance passenger and freight services, connecting London, Nottingham, the High Peaks stone quarries, the crooked-spired cathedral city of Chesterfield, with Sheffield and points west and north to Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland. Only a fraction of those services have disturbed the wooded glade and lineside residents.
Love of railways falls on deaf ears
Late on Monday evening, talks broke down, which may have averted the strike at the eleventh hour. However, with operators already winding down services, and the public resigned to a week of disruption, there was little expectation of a last-minute deal being struck. The government still steadfastly refuses to engage directly, saying resolution is a matter for railway management. Read more
Source: RAILFREIGHT.COM