Rail union RMT has announced that Network Rail staff will walk out from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 27 December.
Network Rail staff make up about half of those involved in the ongoing pay dispute. Their jobs include signalling staff, and engineering and maintenance personnel.
The strikes will disrupt some of the last passenger trains before Christmas, and potentially disrupt a wide programme of engineering works on the railway. Most trains do not run on 25 or 26 December.
A new pay offer was made by Network Rail on Sunday, although the union is urging members not to accept it.
Network Rail accused the RMT of using passengers and workers as “pawns in a fight with the government.
“They are playing fast and loose with people’s Christmas plans and the new strike dates announced deliberately target vital engineering work designed to improve the railway,” Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s chief negotiator said.”
The RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “We feel that we’ve been compelled to take this action due to the intransigence of the government … we’ve been faced with an extremely detrimental offer and our members simply aren’t in a position to accept the changes the companies have put on the table.”
The strikes are in addition to dates previously announced by the union, who have been striking over pay and conditions since June.
Strike calendar:
I’m affected by the strike action, what can I do?
If you hold a ticket for one of the strike days, you’re eligible for a full refund, no matter what sort of ticket you have.
To request a refund, get in contact with the site you booked your tickets through.
You can also travel on a different date than shown on your ticket. Although this information hasn’t been finalised for the December and January strikes yet, it usually means you can travel on the day before, and up to three days after, the date shown on your ticket.
Check National Rail Enquiries’ Industrial Action page closer to the strikes to see the details. Journey Planners have not yet been updated with the amended timetable:
- For travel from 12 to 16 December, the Journey Planner will be correct on 10 December.
- For travel on 17 and 18 December, the Journey Planner will be correct on 14 December.