Passengers warned of limited service during strike action

Birmingham New Street station

Passengers planning on travelling during the RMT strike action on Saturday 8 October are being warned not to get caught out with trains finishing much earlier than normal.

More than 40,000 RMT members from Network Rail and 15 train operating companies will take to picket lines resulting in only nine trains per hour departing from Birmingham New Street station – that’s compared to an average of 40 departures an hour on a non-strike weekday.

Birmingham New Street’s last trains will leave between 3pm and 5pm with final arrivals by 6.30pm. The station will close completely at 10pm on Saturday evening.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that it was encouraging that the new Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP had met with the union.

He said: “We welcome this more positive approach from the government to engage with us as a first step to finding a suitable settlement.

“However, as no new offer has been tabled, our members have no choice but to continue this strike action.

“We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the employers and government need to understand our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes.”

Network Rail will also be carrying out work on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October to the railway track in Beechwood Tunnel on the West Coast main line near Berkswell, between Coventry and Birmingham International.

The work will include replacing the track which is needed to maintain the 110mph speed limit through the tunnel and keep trains running safely and on time.

Rail replacement buses will keep people moving between Birmingham International and Coventry stations but the work will bring significant changes to journeys.

Martin Colmey, Network Rail’s Central route operations director, said: “It’s hugely disappointing that we are facing another day of RMT strike action which will impact the entire network and cause disruption to passengers across the region.

“The strike also coincides with our essential upgrades to the track inside Beechwood Tunnel between Birmingham International and Coventry to make sure we have a safe, high-performing line for passenger and freight services in future. Our advice is to please only travel if absolutely necessary on the strike day and during the upgrade work and if you must make a journey regularly check www.nationalrail.co.uk.””

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