Island Line has largely escaped disruption due to industrial action, but it has been confirmed that there will be no trains this coming Thursday (5th January) as a result of strike action by train drivers.
Up until now, the only time Island Line has been affected by the ongoing strikes is when those who control the power in Eastleigh walked out.
Recent service cancellations locally have been due to staff shortages and infrastructure issues, which continue to frustrate Islanders after the £26million upgrade to Island Line in 2020/2021.
It has now been confirmed that train drivers from the ASLEF union will be walking out on Thursday, meaning that no trains will be able to operate between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin. This is part of national action by the union affecting depot drivers.
However, Islanders are warned that whilst a standard timetable will operate on all other days, where possible, services may be affected by strike action on the mainland.
South Western Railway’s Managing Director, Claire Mann, has said:
“I’m sorry that due to the damaging, national strike action by both the RMT and ASLEF unions, a severely reduced service will operate on our network. We must urge our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary between Tuesday 3 and Sunday 8 January.
“Large parts of our network will be closed between Tuesday 3 and Sunday 8 January. On Sunday 8 January there will be a late start to services and so we urge our customers to carefully check their journeys, before they travel, using journey planners.
Article continues below this advertisement “We share our customers’ frustration over this nationwide strike action and the impact it has on our network and services. We are grateful to our customers for their continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as the rail industry works to bring this damaging strike action to an end”.
Why strike and lose money when you can not strike, work normally and still do nothing as these trains are faulty most of the time anyway? Who would notice a strike?
For a strike to be effective don’t we need a service people rely on? I don’t people will even notice. actually if there is a picket line we may notice as we may actually see train staff.
Next on the agenda –
“due to a reduction in revenue as a result of the strikes and the additional costs attributed to the pay rises awarded, redundancies and layoffs will be required to ensure that the rail companies can continue as going concerns”
many of those strikers, will be gutted when they get the boot later on.
Just as well southern vectis are offering £2 fares !!!!!!!
Will we even notice their on strike as they have hardly been working anyway !
Is there a rail replacement service running? I can’t see any information about it?
There’s a very interesting read on the governments website, regarding the deal between the secretary of state and swr. It clearly states on there that he and he alone is responsible for any pay deals. So the blame lies solely with the government
No – the blame lies solely with the staff who are refusing to work unless they get more money – you will of course note, that to pay the higher wages, higher ticket prices are needed, which in turn fuels higher wage demands from the employers of the commuters, who then put up their prices to pay their staff. Rail workers then complain that everything has gone up more and they then demand more – a vicious circle that needs to be broken.
the real winners are the government – as higher wages and higher prices mean higher tax revenues overall. the real losers are those paying the ticket prices and prices in the shops
Rail fares will increase by over 5% in March and that’s without any payrise. You really should educate yourself before spouting such rubbish. Are you Bob Seely in disguise
the increase slated for march was put in place some time ago in anticipation of an increase in third party costs/charges as well as expected pay deals. Clearly you do not work in business.
What an absolute tool you are!!!
oh really Mr Tumble – i note that your retort clearly shows your lack of understanding of the economic structure of a society and how things like wage spirals cause a ripple effect across the whole business and into any connected third parties- clearly economics isn’t your strong point.
Given their record of stoppages in 2022 will anyone notice they are not running again?
Great comment must of taken you ages to write that,
I would like 50% of a Train Drivers wage of over£70, 000 for only 36 hours a week.
Nothing new then as Island ‘do not run’ line only provides an occasional service.
Havenstreet railway far more reliable.
Well done Island line staff, better late then never.
UP THE WORKERS AND DOWN WITH CORPORATE GREED !
Greedy Greedy selfish drivers. Already well paid just too lazy to work
It is not just about wages, this is just a minor detail.
It is however about health and safety and working terms and conditions.
The people in charge and their shareholders are demanding that they cut all staff by up to 50%. Their long time aim is to get rid of ALL train guards and close down EVERY ticket office in the Country.
Greedy Greedy indeed…….tory scum….imo.