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The strike aims to ensure that train workers get higher wages.
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport workers (RMT) announced that further strike can be expected in the coming weeks after workers voted in favour of the action.
There was a huge turn out in voters to have their say on the strike action this year, with a 71% turnout.
In the event of railway worker strikes across Network Rail, only 20% of trains will run.
So, when and why will the strike take place?
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming action.
When is the action planned for?
RMT union representatives have suggested that the strike may take action at some point in mid June.
Currently there has been no official date declared, however, following the vote on 24 May the RMT general secretary Mick Lynch confirmed a strike would be organised.
He said: “Our NEC will now meet to discuss a timetable for strike action from mid-June, but we sincerely hope ministers will encourage the employers to return to the negotiating table and hammer out a reasonable settlement with the RMT.”
Why are union members going on strike?
The strike aims to ensure that train workers get higher wages, job security and no compulsory deductions.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch spoke on the matter following the vote. He said: “Today’s overwhelming endorsement by railway workers is a vindication of the union’s approach and sends a clear message that members want a decent pay rise, job security and no compulsory redundancies.”
The union will now be demanding urgent talks with Network Rail and the 15 train operating companies that were balloted to find a negotiated settlement to the dispute over pay, jobs and safety.
How many RMT members voted in favour of the strike?
Around 40,000 RMT members who work for Network Rail and other train companies in the UK were balloted to vote.
A massive 71% of those balloted voted on the action, with 89% of those voting in favour of strike action and 11% voting against.
What rail companies are affected by the strike?
Here is the full list of train services where staff have voted for strike action:
- Network Rail
- Chiltern Railways,
- Cross Country Trains,
- Greater Anglia,
- LNER,
- East Midlands Railway,
- c2c,
- Great Western Railway,
- Northern Trains,
- South Eastern
- South Western Railway
- Transpennine Express,
- Avanti West Coast,
- West Midlands Trains
The following company voted for action short of strike:
- GTR (including Gatwick Express)
How will trains to and from Newcastle be affected?
Going off the list of confirmed companies taking part in the strike there may be some disruption to trains departing from and arriving at Newcastle.
Customers are advised to check with their train company before travel and keep up to date on the latest updates via their website.
The following companies are taking part in the strike and also frequent Newcastle. You can check your route specifically via each companies route map linked below:
LNER
The main places this company runs trains are York, Doncaster, Peterborough and London.
However, they are a popular choice for those travelling from Newcastle to Edinburgh, and Newcastle to London.
Northern Trains
Northern Trains runs carriages across the Northern region of the country to the following places from Newcastle:
- Newcastle to Carlisle
- Newcastle to Durham and Darlingtno
- Newcastle to Chathill
- Newcastle to Middlesborough
- Newcastle to Whitby
Cross Country Trains
Newcastle is one of Cross Country’s named destinations for providing fast train services too.
This Service runs trains from Newcastle to the following destinations:
- Darlington
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Aberdeen
- Durham
- Leeds
- Nottingham
- Sheffield
- Glasgow
You can find out more information by visiting the official route map for Cross Country trains.
Transpennine Express
TransPennine Express (TPE) is also asking customers to plan carefully ahead of planned RMT strike action taking place this weekend on Sunday 29 May.
An amended timetable will be in place on this date, which will see a significant reduction in available services. We’re advising customers not to travel, but to plan carefully if journeys are necessary.
Transpennine Express runs trains directly from Newcastle to many destinations, so may be affected at the next strike that was announced by RMT after the vote on 24 May. The destinations include:
- Liverpool
- Manchester Airport
- Manchester Piccadilly
- Manchester Oxford Road
- York
- Durham
- Leeds
- Hull
- Middlesbrough
You can find out more about where this service runs at the official route map.
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