Train passengers are being told to expect “severe disruption” on Worcestershire’s railways next week as the biggest rail strikes in 30 years hit the county.
Three days of industrial action mean a “significantly reduced” service will be in place at stations throughout the county next week.
Some routes, including the Birmingham Snow Hill to Worcester Foregate Street line, w ill not be running at all between Tuesday, June 21 and Saturday, June 25.
When are railway workers striking in Worcestershire?
The strikes themselves are planned for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday but the days in between (Wednesday and Friday) will also be affected because trains will not be in the right place at the start and end of each day.
Both of the train operators that run services in Worcestershire - West Midlands Railway and Great Western Railway (GWR) - have confirmed their staff will be taking part in the strike action.
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West Midlands Railway, which runs services running between Birmingham and Worcester, is advising customers to only travel by train if their journey is essential and they have no other means of transport available.
“If you do travel, expect severe disruption and plan ahead,” the company said in a statement.
Will Worcestershire train services be affected by strikes?
GWR said on strike days there will be no services running at Worcester Foregate Street and Shrub Hill, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Worcestershire Parkway, Pershore, Evesham, Colwall, Ledbury or in the Cotswolds.
It said it would “operate as many trains as possible during the strike action. However, most train services will be affected on the days announced.
“Due to the timing of the strike action, services in between strike days will also be affected.
“Where we are able to run services, they are expected to be extremely busy. We are not able to provide bus replacement services.”
Why are railway workers striking?
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) said more than 50,000 railway workers will take part in next week’s industrial action, making it the biggest strike on the network since 1989.
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RMT says Network Rail and train operators are subjecting staff to pay freezes and planning to cut thousands of jobs.
Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s chief executive, said talks had not progressed as planned “and so we must prepare for a needless national rail strike”.
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