Injunction Halts Train Strike

Southern will now run a normal service

A national rail strike planned for 6-9 April has been called off after a High Court ruling - meaning local Southern trains will be running a normal service.

The court granted an injunction in favour of Network Rail, ruling that the walkout was unlawful.  

Network Rail alleged they had uncovered numerous discrepancies in the way an RMT Union ballot of 5,000 signal workers had been carried out.

Reacting to the Court's verdict, Network Rail director of operations and customer service, Robin Gisby said: "The signallers' strike is off and train services next week will run as normal. This is good news for the millions of passengers who rely on us every day, and for our freight users and for the country as a whole.

"A dispute with the unions remains however, and we have a responsibility to our people to continue talking to the unions to find a settlement that works for us all."

The increasingly bitter dispute between the RMT and Network Rail is over pay, jobs and working conditions. Network Rail plan to axe 1,500 maintenance workers which the RMT argues will compromise safety on the railways.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said the injunction was a "temporary halt to the hostilities": "The matter isn't going to go away. It's no different to Unite. Just before Christmas they had an injunction put on them and they were back with a ballot and they're back taking action again. So our executive will be meeting within the next hour and we'll be recommending a further ballot."

Speaking outside the High Court, Crow said the union would "continue to defend railway safety" adding that "round two will start very shortly".

If you have had to make changes to your journey as a result of the planned strike, visit the National Rail Enquiries website to find out what to do next.

1 April 2010