Railway misery continues as strikes, staff shortages and engineering works create chaos for passengers

  • Rail passengers are experiencing shortages, strikes, and engineering work on the railways.
  • Strikes are more effective when pandemic staff absences occur 










Yesterday’s chaos for rail passengers was caused by strikes, staff shortages and engineering work.

TransPennine Express (ScotRail), Avanti West Coast and Northern Rail, LNER, Greater Anglia, all had reported problems.

The airlines have reduced the time frames or advised passengers that late cancellations are possible.

The East Midlands Railway will be affected by strikes orchestrated and coordinated by the RMT union.

TransPennine Express, ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, Northern Rail, LNER and Greater Anglia all reported problems

TransPennine Express and ScotRail were all affected.

National Rail insists that 95% of its network will be open during the holiday period.

Covid fueled staff absences reached 9 percent in the lead-up to Christmas.

CrossCountry, which operates routes between Scotland and England, was hit by strikes on Christmas Eve with further industrial action expected on New Year’s Eve.

Planned engineering work will cause disruptions to the network, which could result in trains not being able to stop at Bristol Parkway from December 27 to December 31.

Other Great Western Railway services between Bristol Temple Meads and London will be also affected.

Leeds, North will offer a reduced service from December 27 to January 3. This includes a very restricted service on January 2.

Staff absence levels fuelled by Covid hit 9 per cent in the run-up to Christmas

Covid fueled staff absences reached 9 percent in the lead-up to Christmas

National Rail has insisted that 95 per cent of Britain’s rail network will remain open during the festive period despite the wave of disruptions.

It added that the 370 engineering projects it is carrying out over Christmas were planned ‘months, and in some cases years, in advance’.

London will also experience travel chaos as a result of planned Tube network closings. The Piccadilly Jubilee Metropolitan and City lines were all affected.

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