Easter closures and strike threat spell rail chaos (From Gazette)

Easter closures and strike threat spell rail chaos

4:57pm Monday 15th March 2010 in

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RAIL users could be heading for Easter chaos on the trains due to engineering work and possible strikes.

Network Rail has planned work to replace overhead power lines between Liverpool Street and Romford on Easter weekend, causing disruption across the whole of Essex.

Commuters could also face strikes, as its emerged workers in the RMT union have voted to take action, although final dates have yet to be confirmed.

Network Rail’s multi-million pound maintenance work will see buses replace trains between Romford and Liverpool Street on April 3, 4, and 5, with services resuming on April 6. Russell Spink, Network Rail spokesman, also said a bridge near Stratford would be demolished during the work.

He said carrying out work on bank holidays leads to the least amount of disruption.

The possibility of further disruption comes as 77 per cent of the Rail Maritime and Transport union voted last week in favour of strikes over plans by the company to axe up to 1,500 jobs and change working practices.

The union’s executive will discuss the next steps at a meeting on Friday.

Mr Spink added: “Union leaders who defend outdated work practices from the Fifties are standing in the way of progress.

“This is the digital age, not the steam age. We need to change so we can deliver the railway Britain needs in the 21st century.”