Commuters are today facing the worst rail strike in decades, with staff from five major operators walking out over driver-only trains.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on Southern, South Western Railway and Greater Anglia will strike today and tomorrow while a 24-hour walkout will be held at Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North today.
Hundreds of services will be cancelled, replacement buses will be laid on and services that do run will be busier than normal, passengers have been warned.
The strike comes despite a proposed agreement to increase pay by 28.5 per cent over the next five years. Drivers’ union Aslef were keen for its members to accept the deal, but the conductor-heavy RMT union rejected it.
Many passengers took to Twitter to vent their fury at the strike and disruption it is causing, as services were cancelled and running late.
Members of the RMT union stage a protest at the official picket line at Waterloo Station
Commuters ride a crowded South Western Railway train on the Portsmouth to London line as rail services are hit by the biggest disruption in decades because of strikes
A board at Waterloo station. Many passengers took to Twitter to vent their fury at the strike and disruption it is causing, as services were cancelled and running late
The biggest disruption is threatened at SWR, which only took over the franchise from South West Trains in August, with more than a third of services set to be hit. Pictured is Clapham Junction in London today
Carly Perkins wrote: ‘#Disgusted with rmt rail strike in these challenging times. People with suitcases @broxbourne station as they will miss flights!’
Michael Day said: ‘@SWRailwayAssist how can the very FIRST train be 30 minutes late? And ZERO staff be in the station to help. @RMTunion strike day is a winner.’
Picket lines were formed at Waterloo station in London, with union members holding up banners, which read ‘Keep the guard on the train.’
The biggest disruption is threatened at SWR, which only took over the franchise from South West Trains in August, with more than a third of services set to be hit.
The RMT raised safety fears over the contingency plans of Greater Anglia, even though the industry’s regulator ORR said it was satisfied with the arrangements.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: ‘The only way that Greater Anglia can be running these services is through taking serious risks with public safety just as they did during the last phase of strike action.
‘Rail companies are training up rail staff who have previously had no rail operational experienced to stand in as highly trained guards.
Commuters wait for the first train of the day at Godalming station in Surrey as rail services are hit by the strikes
An RMT union picket line outside Waterloo station in central London this morning as strike action begins
Pictured is a leaflet RMT union members are handing out today from their picket line at Waterloo station in London
Commuters cram through an overcrowded Waterloo station during a strike by Southern Rail in January
‘In some cases staff are being bussed in by other train companies not involved in the dispute, paid a bounty and put up overnight in hotels.’
A Transport Department spokesman said: ‘The RMT is attempting to disrupt passengers as part of its political game.
‘However, rail companies are keeping passengers moving with the large majority of services running as planned.
‘This dispute is not about jobs or safety – employees have been guaranteed jobs and salaries.
‘In fact at Southern Rail, where these changes have already been introduced, there are now more staff on trains.
‘The independent rail regulator has said driver-controlled trains, which have been used in this country for more than 30 years, are safe.’
Labour has told the five rail operators that the party will halt any future plans to extend driver-only operations if it wins the next general election.
Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said in a letter that guards are vital for duties such as helping passengers who need assistance.
Mr McDonald said Labour believed the railways should aspire to the safest possible method of train despatch to ensure the maximum level of passenger service, security and safety.
The letter said: ‘I remain concerned that in the event of a train evacuation, derailment or incapacitated driver, the absence of a guard to assist could leave passengers at risk. Similarly, anti-social behaviour on trains could increase without the presence of a guard.
A lone member of staff stands at an empty London Victoria concourse during strikes earlier this year
A survey of over 1,000 businesses for the Rail Delivery Group showed that almost three out of four fear rail strikes will harm the economy with a third believing they could directly harm their businesses.
The drivers’ union Aslef will announce the result of a ballot of its members on Southern today after recommending a deal aimed at resolving its dispute with the company over driver-only trains.
RMT boss rides driver-only train which his union claims is unsafe
Assistant general secretary of the RMT, Mick Lynch, was spotted today riding to work on one of the driver-only trains which his organisation claims are too dangerous to the public.
The RMT say the strike is about safety and that passengers make a ‘lethal gamble’ with their lives if there is no guard on board.
But Mr Lynch looked unfazed today as he joined the millions of commuters who have been carried safely to and from work on them for years.
Assistant general secretary of the RMT, Mick Lynch, was spotted today riding to work on one of the driver-only trains which his organisation claims are too dangerous to the public
Have you been affected by the strike? Email anthony.joseph@mailonline.co.uk and send your pictures to pictures@mailonline.co.uk