Rail Strikes Saturday 13Th August
Rail Strikes to Take Place on Saturday 13th August Rail passengers in the UK are facing disruption on Saturday 13th August due to planned industrial action by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union. The strikes are part of an ongoing dispute between the RMT and the train operator, South Western Railway (SWR), over the role of guards on trains. The strike is expected to affect services in parts of London, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon and Somerset. Background to the Dispute The dispute between the RMT and SWR has been ongoing since 2017, when the train operator announced plans to introduce driver-only operated (DOO) services. This would mean that guards would no longer be present on trains, and instead, the driver would be responsible for opening and closing doors. The RMT union argue that removing guards from services could lead to a reduction in safety standards, and that the role of the guard is essential for providing assistance to vulnerable