LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Striking members of the RMT and TSSA trade unions join the picket line at Euston station on July 27, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. 40,000 RMT rail workers will walk out for the second round of train strikes today. (Photo by Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
Rail strikes are continuing into the autumn (Picture: Getty)

Another rail strike has been announced for next month, continuing the wave of industrial action into autumn.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said 40,000 of its members at Network Rail and 15 train operators will walk out on October 8.

Rail strikes are already planned on October 1 and 5, affecting journeys for people heading to the Conservative party conference in Birmingham and the London Marathon.

It means travel chaos is virtually guaranteed as passengers face three 24-hour walkouts in the space of one week.

However, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch signalled there may be light at the end of the tunnel after an encouraging meeting with new Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

‘We welcome this more positive approach from the government to engage with us as a first step to finding a suitable settlement,’ he said.

‘However, as no new offer has been tabled, our members have no choice but to continue this strike action.

‘We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the employers and government need to understand our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes.’

The train companies affected by the strikes:

Chiltern Railways

Cross Country Trains

Greater Anglia

LNER

East Midlands Railway

c2c

Great Western Railway

Hull Trains 

Northern Trains

South Eastern

South Western Railway

Transpennine Express

Avanti West Coast

West Midlands Trains

GTR (including Gatwick Express)

Meanwhile, Avanti West Coast has announced plans to increase its services after slashing timetables in August.

Extra trains will run from Tuesday, September 27. Between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly it will run an additional 10 daily trains on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and an extra six trains on Wednesdays.

It will also run an additional four daily services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Further increases to the timetable will be made in December as new drivers complete their training.

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