Fans heading to Eurovision final face travel chaos amid yet another rail strike

Eurovision fans will once again be hobbled by trains chaos as railway workers once again resort to striking to secure a long-sought pay deal.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), one of Britain’s biggest railway unions announced strike action last month.

Workers are walking out across 14 train operators today – the same day as the Eurovision Song Contest is being held in Liverpool.

This is the first time the international competition is being held in England since 1998 – passengers are being asked to check their route before heading out.

The union’s action was announced only hours after Aslef, which represents train drivers, said its members will picket on the same day as the FA Cup final.

RMT chief Mick Lynch said today’s strike action comes after the Rail Delivery Group (RPG), a rail membership body, axed pay talks.

‘This strike takes place in the wake of a recent re-ballot of members working for 14 train operating companies which massively re-affirmed a mandate for further strike action,’ Lynch said.

‘Throughout this dispute, the government has tied the hands of the railway companies and prevented them offering a fair deal.

‘We are striking so that the employers and government can see the huge anger amongst rail workers is very real and they need to recognise that fact, face reality and make improved proposals.

‘We are calling for the rail companies to get around the table with RMT and negotiate in good faith for a better deal for rail workers.’

Why today was picked for picketing was down to employment law, the RMT said, as it was the last day it could take place.

Train timetables shouldn’t be too poked with holes today compared to yesterday when Aslef walked out.

Merseyrail, which has tracks across Liverpool, Cheshire and Lancashire, is not affected by the stoppages and should run a normal service.

Aslef, which represents 21,000 train drivers, walked out yesterday, impacting 16 train operators.

Aslef’s general secretary Mick Whelan said the government has been a no-show to pay talks since early January.

An earlier offer of 8% was ‘risible’ at best, he said, amid double-digit inflation that has sent the cost of food, fuel and most day-to-day living costs sky-high.

The Rail Delivery Group claimed it made a ‘revised and fair offer’ to end the months-long deadlock.

‘It would have introduced overdue, common-sense improvements already in place in parts of the network, which would will see more trains running on time for passengers,’ a spokesperson said.

‘Sadly, this has been rejected.’

‘The government seems to think they can starve us back to work, or that we will give up, but that isn’t going to happen,’ Whelan added.

‘We are in this for the long haul and there will be more strikes.’

But amid accusations from transport secretary Mark Harper that train unions are ‘cynically targeting’ Eurovision, Whelan made one thing perfectly clear.

‘Strangely enough, I don’t really watch Eurovision, I even didn’t know they had semi-finals,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday.

‘If we were targeting Eurovision we would have done Friday, Saturday and Sunday.’

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