UK train strikes to disrupt return to work this week.
Brits are facing another week of travel chaos as rail strikes drag into the new year, disrupting the return to workplaces following the holidays and dealing another blow to retail and hospitality businesses.
Some 40,000 rail workers began five days of strike action over pay on Tuesday, shutting down rail services across the United Kingdom and continuing months of unrest that blighted travel for much of last year.
Britain’s largest transport union, RMT, said workers will strike on January 3, 4, 6 and 7. ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, will also walk out on January 5.
Passengers should travel only if “absolutely necessary”, according to the Rail Delivery Group, which speaks for train operating companies and Network Rail, owner of Britain’s rail infrastructure. It said that around half of the rail network will shut down on strike days, with only about 20% of normal services running. UK train strikes to disrupt return to work.
The travel chaos will delay the return to offices following the holidays, a disappointing start to the year for stores and restaurants hoping for a new year bump to sales after earlier rail strikes hurt Christmas trading.
UKHospitality, an industry group, estimates this week’s strikes will cost pubs, restaurants, hotels and other venues about £200 million ($239 million) in lost sales. That’s on top of “vital pre-Christmas sales” losses of £1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) in December, according to CEO Kate Nicholls.
The rail strikes will make city centers “ghost towns” for another week, Nicholls said.
“The sector has struggled to recover from Covid and these protracted rail strikes since May have made that bounce back much tougher,” she added.
