DH birthday- rail strike

[newlabelwriter]

DH has a significant birthday coming up in next few weeks, we’d booked a weekend away for us and DC to go to Wales and meet with friends and I’ve just seen there’s a huge rail strike (I try to avoid the news!) He doesn’t drive and I can’t at the moment so that’s out & flights are astronomical. I really don’t know what to do, leave plans as is and just pray by some miracle that the strike is cancelled.

Any advice? Thank you

I'm supposed to be going to another city for a concert during the strike. I'm leaving my plans as they are for the moment to see if anything changes.

Coach @newlabelwriter ?

Am presuming if you’ve checked flights you’ve already checked coaches as well?

Coach won't work as we can't leave until kids finish school and timings don't work.

Feel for you OP. I need to be somewhere for work on the Tuesday. At the moment i'm just hoping it all gets called off. That's happened before.

Take the kids out of school early? If they don't have exams it's like taking some time out for a holiday, it's not a week out like some families will be having this time of year. Can you consider it to get the coach?

Where are you travelling from and to, not all train operators are striking, could you get close by and a relative/friend pick you up?

Check which rail operator is striking. When I've been travelling recently, it's been TransPennine Express with cancellations, but others e.g. LNER have been OK, and it's been possible to travel. Pain in the arse, with a less direct route, and late arrivals. But possible.
Good luck 🍀

My DH works in the rail industry and says there's very little hope of the strikes being called off.

The unions have a mandate for strike action until November so this certainly won't be the last unless a pay deal is made.

I would try and make alternative arrangements if you can.

Thank you - good to have some insider info. I think I will need to make other plans. So disappointing. Just seen it's also Glastonbury weekend. Lots of disappointed people.

Oh and the rail operator is def striking 😫

I am travelling in the second strike day and both my companies are striking. However, I called the company I booked through and was told my trains are definitely running. To change to day before would be £80 on what I have already paid.

I am hoping it all gets called off.

They may well be running but it will be a significantly reduced timetable. My local train company, which runs into London for example is only running 2 trains an hour, which will make travel extremely challenging.

The problem for most train companies is they have to assume all members of the RMT are striking hence why there's such a reduced service.

Urghhh, really not counting on it happening at the moment tbh

Shift to a different weekend and so something local on his birthday.

I really wouldn't bank on it not happening.

Also in the industry and in your shoes I would change my plans

For those of you who had a bit of insider knowledge, if we travelled late afternoon 24th do you think we’d be okay? Strike on 25th. I know this is is a ‘how long is a piece of string’ question but anything would be appreciated.

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The signalmen are on strike, if the timetable says your train is running it will be the only train running on multiple lines at that time
Train drivers and senior managers are the only people who are working on strike days
No other rail staff have had a bonus or pay rise for over 3 years, the highest pay grade on strike is earning £32k a year. Most of them earn a great deal less
Dont get sucked into the government bullshit about we’re not giving them a pay rise because of the average wage on the railway etc

Sorry OP in reply
It is impossible to say because no one knows where stock will end up on 23rd

BTW. Nothing against strikers.

We’ve decided to shift to two weekends time and do something locally. Didn’t want to take the chance