November is six consecutive month in which the rail network has been hit by industrial action, reports James Cracknell
More rail strikes are set to take place this month with services across Enfield severely affected.
In the latest walkouts planned as part of a series of long-running industrial disputes, four separate days of strikes are planned on Saturday 5th, Monday 7th, Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th.
For the three national strike days, on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, members of the RMT, Unite and TSSA trade unions are walking out. As a result there will be no services at all on the Greater Anglia route through Enfield, meaning the closure of Enfield Lock, Brimsdown, Ponders End and Meridian Water stations.
On Great Northern trains serving Crews Hill, Gordon Hill, Enfield Chase, Grange Park, Winchmore Hill and Palmers Green stations on the Hertford Loop line, as well as Hadley Wood and New Southgate stations on the East Coast Main Line, only around 20% of services are expected to run.
There will also be a reduced service on London Overground, with trains between Cheshunt and Liverpool Street, via Turket Street, Southbury, Edmonton Green and Silver Street stations, reduced to one train per hour. Trains to and from Enfield Town are currently still scheduled to run every half-hour as normal.
On Thursday 10th, RMT strikes are taking place which will severely impact London Underground services. TfL is advising customers to avoid travelling on the tube as limited or no service is expected. London Overground will run a full service, however it may be subject to last minute changes. All other services on the TfL network, including buses, are expected to run but may be extremely busy. National rail services will be running to a normal timetable but will be busier than usual.
Disruption to rail services is expected on the morning after each of the strike days, before returning to normal. There could also be further disruption because Network Rail’s leaf-busting railhead treatment trains will not be able to carry out their usual night-time runs on strike days to treat rails made slippery by falling leaves, so rails may need to be treated in the morning which may further push back the time of some first trains.
Passengers who have booked tickets to travel on strike days can get a free refund from the retailer where they bought the ticket, change the date of travel or use the ticket to travel on the day before they were due to travel or up to and including Friday 11th November.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said: “We’re very sorry that once again people’s travel plans are disrupted by strikes.
“Unfortunately, we’re only able to run a very limited service on strike days so our advice must be to avoid using our trains on those days impacted by the industrial action.
“We know it affects so many passengers from those trying to get to work, school or college to football fans wanting to cheer on their teams in the first round of the FA Cup, as well as people wanting to enjoy an evening out in London.
“The rail industry will continue to talk to unions to try to resolve the strikes so we can get back to enjoying travelling by train as normal.”
Angie Doll, chief operating officer for Great Northern’s owner Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “I’m sorry so many people will be affected by the RMT strikes starting on 5th November and urge people not to travel by train unless absolutely necessary on any strike day.
“On Saturday, people may be considering taking the train to fireworks celebrations [at Alexandra Palace] but the service will end early and they won’t be able to get back.
“In fact, there will be disruption all the way through to Thursday morning and schoolchildren in particular will be affected as services will start much later in the morning every day.
“Please plan ahead carefully by visiting nationalrail.co.uk. We continue to urge the unions to work with the industry and come to a resolution.”
Glynn Barton, TfL’s interim chief operating officer, said: “It’s highly disappointing that the RMT union is planning strike action on the underground and overground on 10th November. We are encouraging them to withdraw this disruptive action and continue to engage with us and Arriva Rail London, operator of the London Overground, to avoid disruption to our customers.
“No changes to TfL pensions are currently tabled, and no one has or will lose their job as a result of any changes proposed.
“Customers should check before they travel from 5th-11th November, as strike action will impact different modes of transport each day.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our focus in this dispute is the rail employers who have yet to make an offer that will create the conditions for a negotiated settlement.
“I call upon the new prime minister, Rishi Sunak, to unshackle the rail industry so they can come to a settlement with RMT.
“We will vigorously pursue our industrial campaign until we achieve a deal.”
For more information and the strikes:
Visit greateranglia.co.uk/strikes
Visit greatnorthernrail.com/industrial-action
Visit tfl.gov.uk/strikes
Update (04/11):
RMT has called off its planned strike action on 5th, 7th and 9th November.
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