RMT train strikes to hit North Yorkshire tomorrow

Rail operators are advising customers to only travel if essential, as over 50,000 members of the RMT are set to walk out across the country over disputes on pay and conditions.

The TSSA and Unite unions are also striking tomorrow.

Trains will run with a reduced timetable in place, and some train stations will remain closed on striking days – including Malton station.

Rail operators affected include Northern Trains, LNER, TransPennine Express (TPE), and Cross Country.

LNER, who operate the east coast main line from London to Edinburgh, will start service on the York to Edinburgh line from 8.33am, then 9.34am.

Following this, two trains will run every hour on the line with the last train to Newcastle calling at 4.46pm and to Edinburgh calling at 4pm.

Two train will run every hour on the line southbound from York to London, from 7.57am with the final service calling at 3.57pm.

TPE will be running one train every hour on their routes eastbound and westbound from York on striking days.

Trains westbound from York will run from 8.19am, with the final service calling at 4.18pm.

Eastbound from York, trains will run from 10.06am, with the final service calling at 6.06pm.

A spokesperson for TPE said: “Anyone planning to use TPE services during this period should seek alternative transport and only travel if journeys are absolutely essential.”

Northern Rail will run one train every hour between York and Leeds on striking days, with trains running from 8.08am and the final service calling at 5.08pm.

The rail operator has advised customers not to travel on these days.

Cross Country will also operate a reduced timetables during the strikes – with four trains running from Derby to York via Leeds.

Disruption will also be felt on Sunday, August 21, as overnight walkouts will mean trains leave stations at later times in the morning and delay services throughout the day.

The train strikes will cause delays throughout the week Picture: TransPennine Express

Tomorrow's industrial action coincides with the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse.

A spokesperson for York Racecourse told The Press that vehicles will be allowed to be left over night in car parks, at the owner’s risk, provided they are collected before 11am.

There will also be shuttle busses running to the racecourse from the train station, where coaches will drop passengers.

Customers travelling by train on strike days are advised to check timetables up until moments before they are travelling as delays and cancellations are highly likely.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that across the transport network members were now more determined than ever to protect their pensions, secure a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions.

He said: “Network Rail have not made any improvement on their previous pay offer and the train operating companies have not offered us anything new.

“Network Rail is also threatening to impose compulsory redundancies and unsafe 50 per cent cuts to maintenance work if we did not withdraw strike action.

“The train operating companies have put driver only operations on the table along with ransacking our members terms and conditions.

“RMT will continue to negotiate in good faith but we cannot tolerate being bullied or hoodwinked into accepting a raw deal for our members.

“The government need to stop their interference in these disputes so the employers can come to a negotiated settlement with us.”

More information about the strikes can be found here: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industrial-action/