The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. This is the latest strike in the long-running row over pay and. Rail services across the country are being cancelled in the run-up to Christmas as rising numbers of staff fall ill with Covid. BBC News Rail passengers are facing delays and cancellations across the UK after cracks were found on some high-speed trains during routine checks. Railway speed restrictions were brought in across most of England and Wales, with reports of buckled tracks and overheard wire systems failing on Monday. Tim Shoveller, Network Rail's chief negotiator, said the company is looking forward to "getting back round the table with all our trades unions early next week to see if the progress made this week can be built on, and a resolution found". Judging by reservations, it expects Thursday to be the busiest day of the week. That figure stood at 7.6% a month ago. He added that calling off the latest ones has given negotiations between unions and employers a "better chance of success". Mr Ford added that repairing aluminium trains is a "very difficult process" because of the electronic equipment inside them. The 48-hour strike is the first of two . BBC's EastEnders and Waterloo Road have been cancelled tonight, Tuesday January 17, as the channel is forced to reschedule due to airing a football match. Another transport union, the TSSA, had already called off November action at Network Rail so that discussions could continue, and on Friday suspended planned rail strikes on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday at different firms. 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In the past week 5.2% of trains were cancelled, versus an average of 2.9%, according to the Rail Delivery Group. 2023 BBC. Staff in green blazers and high visibility jackets almost outnumber those trying to travel. Who was Ukrainian minister Denys Monastyrsky? It comes after Tuesday's record-breaking temperatures above 40C, which caused damage to overhead electric lines and railway tracks. Avanti West Coast, which operates trains between London and Birmingham, Manchester, North Wales and Scotland, had the highest proportion of cancellations, at 8%. Author and rail historian Christian Wolmar says despite a stronger "general feeling of rail malaise" in the north of England, with trains statistically worse performing, often the impact of disruption in the capital was greater. Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, LNER, Scotrail and West Midlands Railway have all reported cancellations. Who was Ukrainian minister Denys Monastyrsky? The trains have either been cancelled completely or terminated at Birmingham. Neil may be late for his job interview, students Savannah and Angela are struggling to return to Exeter to resume their university studies, while another man is set to miss his vaccine appointment as a result of the disruption to services. It said there could be short-notice cancellations. ': ' , 2002 When dogs in Alaska wait for the bus Video, Iran man who beheaded wife jailed for eight years, German police deny Greta's detainment was staged, Jeremy Renner TV show poster edited after accident, Keep cake away from office, says food adviser, Santos denies taking money from dying dog GoFundMe, City asks Madonna if it can borrow her painting, Germany: We are no longer reliant on Russian energy, Mafia boss's second hideout found behind wardrobe. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. VideoChess gets a risqu makeover, The Nigerian influencers paid to manipulate your vote, How a baffling census delay is hurting Indians, How Mafia boss was caught at a clinic after 30 years. When Gabe Christenson started feeling run down a few years ago, he didn't go to the doctor. And hope I'm not going to be stranded," she said. LNER, which runs services on the East Coast main line, is operating an amended timetable in the week before Christmas because of the number of absent drivers and train managers. These figures reflect on-the-day cancellations. Read about our approach to external linking. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. In 2022, for the whole city, there were nearly 25 million scheduled rail and Tube stops in total (not including the Elizabeth line). And a London Underground strike planned for Thursday is still set to go ahead. Who was Ukrainian minister Denys Monastyrsky? He said that employing more drivers would "cost money" and "would go into their profit margins". The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. The company said cracks were detected on "more than one" Hitachi 800 train, so all 93 in its fleet are being inspected as a "precaution". The affected routes are between London Kings Cross and Leeds, and London Kings Cross and Lincoln. "It's important to point out that the affected trains are relatively new, in which case the manufacturers should foot the bill for any repairs, not passengers or taxpayers.". (The other, South Korea, is now trialling a paid sick leave programme.). Rob, who lives in John O' Groats, says: "My dad is at King's Cross and doesn't know what to do. When he finally scheduled an appointment, the doctor told him he had a gut infection. But he said no president, no matter how labour friendly, would be willing to risk an economically damaging strike over sick pay. Newly released data from the Office of Road and Rail shows 3.8% of trains in Great Britain have been cancelled in the year up to 12 November - or one in every 26. 2023 BBC. On some days, numerous trains in a row have been cancelled. Infrastructure problems play a role too. Sense of injustice lingers after Seoul Halloween crush, Chess gets a risqu makeover. Network Rail said: "On Sunday 15 January buses will replace ALL trains from Manchester Piccadilly . The outcome has outraged thousands of workers who had hoped for more support from a political party and a president who had campaigned on the promise of passing national sick leave and supporting unions. What happened in the Ukraine helicopter crash? A spokesperson for LNER said services were being reduced as a result of an increase in the number of our staff self-isolating due to Covid. 1 billion (November estimate) 1.2 billion. But that expired at the end of the year and firms quickly trimmed the benefits. He added there were about 1,000 carriages to deal with, so it would be "quite a considerable job". During the Covid crisis, the government moved train companies onto emergency contracts. Despite efforts to revive the issue, many Republicans were opposed to the principle of government-given "business mandates", and talks petered out. He apologised for performance not being good enough, and insisted the operators do employ enough train drivers; something their union Aslef disputes. "I started doing some work in Cardiff a few months ago, so have been trying to get the direct train on at least eight occasions," he said. ", Housework: The only work you never retire from, the only work you never get paid for", US lawmakers vote to block potential rail strike. LNER is one of the train companies forced to cancel services, When dogs in Alaska wait for the bus Video, ScotRail reported more than a hundred cancellations, German police deny Greta's detainment was staged, Santos denies taking money from dying dog GoFundMe, Iran man who beheaded wife jailed for eight years, Mafia boss's second hideout found behind wardrobe, Maximum two drinks a week, Canada guidance advises, US town with no water using rain to flush toilets, Celebrities who say their children will get no inheritance, Heathrow beefs up security over cannabis arrests. They involved staff at Network Rail, which employs signalling workers across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as workers at 14 train companies. Read about our approach to external linking. "He's trying to keep away from people and so is a bit loathe to seek help from staff in person. Read about our approach to external linking. Zelensky says fatal crash was consequence of war, New Zealand PM Ardern to step down next month, Arizona town with no water using rain to flush toilets. She said she took taxis to and from work which cost her more than 160. Read about our approach to external linking. The train operator has apologised for the "enormous amount of frustration and inconvenience". It acknowledged that the national dispute involving three rail unions had caused severe disruption and on cancellations it said "the industry is working hard to cope with an unprecedented convergence of issues". "This rolling stock must not be allowed back into service until we are 100% certain these trains are safe. "And that opinion comes not just from me as a railway watcher but from a lot of the senior railway people I talk to.". VideoChess gets a risqu makeover, The Nigerian influencers paid to manipulate your vote, How a baffling census delay is hurting Indians, How Mafia boss was caught at a clinic after 30 years. A spokesperson for Aslef said in relation to CrossCountry: "I'm afraid they don't really employ enough drivers to deliver the services they promise passengers they will run. Network Rail urged passengers to check before they started their journeys and only to travel if absolutely necessary. The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators across the UK, said its members had reported that 8.7% of their staff were off sick due to all causes including Covid. , numerous trains in a row have been cancelled completely or terminated at.! Programme. ) at Birmingham matter how labour friendly, would be `` quite considerable... Over sick pay LNER, Scotrail and West Midlands railway have all reported cancellations between unions and a! 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