Members of the RMT rail union are carrying out further strikes against three train operators in the ongoing dispute over driver only operation and the role of train guards.
Union members employed by MerseyRail walked out on Saturday (8 July) and again on Monday, while RMT members on Southern Rail are holding a one-day strike on Monday.
The RMT fears that MerseyRail will run new trains without guards
Merseyrail said a reduced train service would run across its network from around 7am to 7pm, with no trains on the Ellesmere Port, Hunts Cross and Kirkby lines. Some stations will be closed.
Southern is already running a reduced timetable as a result of an overtime ban by the drivers' union ASLEF. It said it did not expect the RMT strike to have any further effect on its services.
Workers on Arriva Northern services are holding the third day of a three day strike on Monday.
The company said it planned to run more than 40% of its normal timetable across the three days, supplemented with rail replacement buses.
It said the majority of services would run between 7am and 7pm, though many routes would start to wind down from late afternoon and all services were expected to be extremely busy.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: ‘RMT members on Southern, Northern and Merseyrail remain absolutely rock-solid and determined in separate disputes that have the common objective of putting safe rail travel before private profit.’
Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, said: ‘Passengers, the country and our people want one railway, united, coming together to deliver a bigger and better railway in the long-term, not needless strikes.
'Now is the time to put the country ahead of opportunistic action - the RMT leadership should to call off their action and get back around the table.’
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