Christmas rail journey chaos as CrossCountry prepare employees announce December strikes
RMT union members at CrossCountry will strike on December 6, 13, 20 and 27, threatening disruption to Christmas travel plans across the UK rail network for many passengers
Rail travellers are bracing for potential festive travel mayhem after a trade union declared strike action across four straight Saturdays in December.
CrossCountry railway staff are set to stage a series of walkouts next month amid an ongoing pay row.
Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members will down tools on December 6, 13, 20 and 27.
The union declared that longstanding concerns over pay and staffing levels remain unaddressed.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “CrossCountry has not dealt with the core issues in this dispute and has come back with a proposal that is worse than what was already on the table. Our members continue to face unresolved staffing shortages, unfair pay outcomes, and broken commitments.
“RMT members have been left with no choice but to take strike action.
“The company must return with a serious offer that meets the commitments it has already made and treats our members with the fairness and respect they deserve.”
Shiona Rolfe, Managing Director at CrossCountry, told The Sun: “We are disappointed for our customers that the RMT has announced further industrial action.
“We’ve worked hard to make a fair and reasonable offer that addresses the key points raised in this dispute, and we’ve made meaningful progress in negotiations.
“Our priority remains reaching an agreement that avoids disruption for passengers in the busy Christmas period, and we are ready to continue talks at any time.”
CrossCountry is yet to reveal the full extent of disruption the strike will cause to services, though it’s anticipated that the majority of trains will be axed with only a skeleton timetable in operation, reports the Express.
The timing couldn’t be worse, as scheduled engineering work on the West Coast Main Line on December 27 meant countless travellers were banking on CrossCountry services as their backup travel option.
Network Rail has also cautioned passengers to brace for significant delays during the festive period ahead of massive £130 million improvement works.
According to Network Rail chief Helen Hamlin, the organisation has “some very big plans for improving the railway”.
XC Trains Limited, operating under the CrossCountry brand, falls under the ownership of Arriva UK Trains.
The company’s network centres from Birmingham New Street as its hub, running both intercity and extended long-distance passenger services throughout the UK, excluding Greater London.
It previously ran Britain’s longest direct rail passenger route, stretching from Aberdeen in north-east Scotland to Penzance in western Cornwall – clocking in at 13 hours and 15 minutes.
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