Strikes will bring England’s railways to a standstill again on Friday and Saturday, as UK sports fans gear up for a packed weekend of horse racing, England’s first test and the FA Cup final.
Friday and Saturday will mark the 29th and 30th days of action respectively since unions and operators first locked horns a year ago in the current dispute over pay and conditions.
Ongoing rail strikes are now estimated to have cost the UK economy £5bn since action began last June, according to the Nation Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).
Rival fans travelling from Manchester to London for Saturday’s FA Cup final showdown at Wembley are set to face disruption, with Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern and London Northwestern Railway among operators due to be hit by the action.
Epsom Derby goers journeying to the race on Saturday will likely also be hit, with Southeastern Rail advising people on Friday only to travel “if absolutely necessary”.
Cricket fans hoping to catch a day of test match cricket between England and Ireland at Lord’s may struggle too, as 19 of the UK’s 28 rail operators brace for “significant disruption”.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch slated the government on Friday as his union began a day of strikes following walkouts from ASLEF drivers on Wednesday and ahead of Saturday’s action.
"Instead of working to end the dispute, amidst a cost-of-living crisis it appears to have no idea how to tackle, the UK government has spent the last year squandering billions of pounds on a futile war against the rail unions,” he wrote to MPs.
Commenting further on a picket line outside of Euston station in London, Lynch dubbed the strikes a success on the grounds action had prevented jobs cuts, office closures and restructuring.
“What we haven’t got is a pay deal, we haven’t got any guarantees on our members’ futures but we have stopped them doing the worst aspects of their proposals,” he added.