Travelling fans to be hit by rail strike when Newcastle play away at …

The latest round of rail strikes could affect Newcastle United fans making one of the longest away trips of the season.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) said 20,000 of its members in 14 train operators would walk out on Saturday August 26 and Saturday September 2. That second date coincides with Newcastle United's away trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, in the late kick-off between the current Premier League top two at the Amex Stadium.

Fans will likely have to make alternative travel arrangements for the roughly 350-mile journey, with rail journeys between Newcastle and Brighton requiring a change in London. The four-and-a-half hour journey by train can take as long as 10 hours, while driving to Brighton is closer to a six-hour journey.

Newcastle's home match on the previous week is unlikely to be affected by the strikes, as they play Liverpool on Sunday August 27. However, Sunderland[2] fans looking to travel to their Championship fixture at Coventry on that date may need to make other arrangements.

The RMT said it had been left with "little choice" but to take further action as it had seen no improved or revised offer from the Rail Delivery Group.

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said: "The mood among our members remains solid and determined in our national dispute over pay, job security and working conditions. We have had to call further strike action as we have received no improved or revised offer from the Rail Delivery Group.

"The reason for this is the Government has not allowed them a fresh mandate on which discussions could be held. Our members and our union will continue fighting until we can reach a negotiated and just settlement."

Mick Lynch, Secretary-General of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers pictured as he addressed a crowd of thousands at The Durham Miners Gala Mick Lynch, Secretary-General of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, pictured as he addressed a crowd of thousands at The Durham Miners Gala

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: "With further strike action the RMT are once again targeting customers looking to enjoy various sporting events, festivals and the end of the summer holidays, disrupting their plans and forcing more cars on to the road. We have now made three offers, the latest of which would have given staff pay rises of up to 13% as well as job security guarantees, and the RMT executive have blocked this without a convincing explanation.

"We remain open to talks and we have said repeatedly that we want to give our people a pay rise, but until the union leadership and executive is united in what it wants and engages in good faith with the 30% shortfall in revenue the industry is continuing to grapple with post-Covid, it is difficult to move forward. Unfortunately, the repercussion of this impasse affects our staff, customers and the communities across the country that rely on the railway."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "The RMT leadership’s decision to call more strikes and cynically target the travelling public over the bank holiday weekend is disappointing. The Government has facilitated fair and reasonable pay offers.

"However, union bosses are opting to prolong this dispute by blocking their members from having a vote on these offers. We continue to urge that members are given their say and disruption is brought to an end."

References

  1. ^ I rode the first train on the Northumberland Line which will connect Newcastle to Ashington from next summer (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
  2. ^ Sunderland (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)

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