Caledonian Sleeper strike: Two-day walkout to begin in row over safety

Strike: Workers will walk out on the Caledonian Sleeper service at 6.30pm for 48 hours
Train Photos/Flickr
Jamie Bullen22 December 2015

Christmas services on sleeper trains between Scotland and London have been disrupted after talks to avert strike action ended without agreement.

Rail workers on the Caledonian Sleeper service will strike tonight after last-ditch talks to fix alleged train defects broke down.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said the 48-hour walk out will start at 6.30pm.

Talks between the union and the service operator Serco took place last night over claims there are more than 200 alleged defects on trains which were “potentially dangerous” to staff and the public.

However, the RMT said the discussions broke down.

Problems are said to include loss of power on journeys, disconnected smoke detectors, lighting and heating systems not working.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The poor service to passengers, in conjunction with the company's failure to address the issues raised by RMT representatives and officials in talks right up to the wire late last night, reached the point where the union decided enough is enough and left us with no option but to put on industrial action before someone is injured.

"That action now goes ahead. Serco never had any intention of taking the talks process seriously and have treated both staff and public with complete contempt throughout."

Peter Strachan, managing director of Caledonian Sleeper, said: "Both Serco, and more importantly over 1,000 of our paying passengers, are being hugely inconvenienced by this wholly unnecessary action by the RMT in the run-up to Christmas.

"We remain open to discussion to avoid any disruption to guests."

Last Tuesday, ballot results revealed RMT members voted by nine to one for strike action and action short of a strike.

The Caledonian Sleeper, which offers passengers overnight travel between Scotland and London, was taken over by Serco in March from previous operator First Group.

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