UK national train strike: Unions begin fourth day of crisis talks as 24-hour rail walkout looms
UPDATE: The RMT has followed the TSSA union in suspending strike action after an improved offer from Network Rail.
Union representatives are returning for a fourth day at the bargaining table today after late-night mediation failed to avert a planned 24-hour rail strike.
Network Rail and the unions RMT and TSSA are yet to find a compromise to stave off the action over pay and jobs, set to run from 5pm on bank holiday Monday and create commuter chaos as workers return to their jobs on Tuesday.
Yesterday Virgin Trains said it has cancelled its West Coast train services next Monday and Tuesday and plans only a limited East Coast timetable. It could still restore trains if an agreement is reached.
Other train operators have warned of severe disruption and National Express, the UK’s largest coach operator, said it would be adding 18,000 seats to its network to meet extra demand.
Meanwhile, a legal challenge by Network Rail against the TSSA ballot is listed for this afternoon in the High Court.