Railway services across Britain close down for Christmas as strike action begins

December 25th, 2011

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

London Underground workers due to walk out on Boxing Day
Signal workers in Scotland began 72-hour strike last night

By
Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 12:00 AM on 25th December 2011

Christmas has been cancelled on the majority of the UK’s rail network as services wound down last night for up to 60 hours of train-free yuletide timetables.

As millions of families made their festive getaway, train services started to run down in advance of a complete shut-down of the rail network today, with services axed in most areas on Boxing Day, and a late start to a limited Bank Holiday service on Tuesday.

East Coast, Virgin West Coast, First Great Western, Northern Rail, Cross Country, South West trains and South Eastern are among those writing off the majority of Christmas with blank departure and arrivals boards.

Walk-out: London Underground workers will strike on Boxing Day

And many of those trains which do eventually run between Christmas and New Year will be subject to delays, diversions and cancellations caused by engineering works and the dreaded bus replacement services.

In Scotland, railway signal workers started a 72-hour strike yesterday in a dispute over career progression.

Just to add to Britons’ woes, Tube services will be hit by striking Underground workers who want extra pay to work on Boxing Day.

Slow services: Many of those trains which do eventually run between Christmas and New Year will be subject to delays

It means millions of families will have to resort to their cars to visit friends and relatives over the festive period – or simply stay at home.

Passenger groups and rail experts in Britain want to know why British rail passengers have to put up with such a shoddy service – despite pledges by the Conservatives in opposition that they would end the Christmas shut-downs.

It comes as passengers face soaring New Year fares averaging 5.9 per cent but potentially as high as 11 per cent.

Philip Haigh, business editor of the respected Rail magazine said: ’It’s almost a three-day shut-down.

‘Local services should be running – on Boxing day at the very least. It used to happen 30 or 40 years ago. But then the whole country used to work a lot harder over the Christmas period.

‘There’s clearly a demand for travel on Boxing Day – you only have to look at the queues in the busy shops and shopping centres. Some of them, like the Metro Centre in Gateshead and Meadowhall in Sheffield, even have their own stations.’

Up to 18 million cars took to the roads yesterday with a ‘delayed rush hour’ as people set off to spend Christmas with family or to do last-minute Christmas shopping.

But there was chaos in the capital as one of the main arterial routes into London was blocked because of a ‘serious structural defect’ at the Hammersmith Flyover on the A4 discovered on Thursday night.

Getaway traffic was heavy on major routes, including the M1 in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, the M4 between London and Newbury in Berkshire, the M25 around London, and the M4 and M5 in the West Country.

The Highways Agency said 19 sets of roadworks and lane restrictions had been removed to ease congestion, and will not be put back until the new year.

However 26 roadworks remain in place including on the M1 near Luton, the M25, and the A1 near Thirsk.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Newest
Oldest
Best rated
Worst rated

Oh dear!! Never mind I live in brighton he he.

– tammy, Brighton , uk, 25/12/2011 12:04

John, South Coast, UK, 25/12/2011 9:37. You’ve got it right in one. When I was made redundant in 1991 I 50 years old only job I could get was bus driviong, rather than sponge off the state. Often up a 3 am to do “early turn” not in bed much before “3 am on “late turn” woking sat/su, bank holidays for the princely sum of £4.25 per hour. Being treated like trash from pig ignorent members of the public, who thought they were better than me.
Dont you think I would rather have spent my Christmas at home with my family.
Most people have cars now so why run any public transport over Christmas, oh thats right so the great British public can go out get bladdered and someone else has to clean up after them.

– Greedy X Bus Driver, The Real World, 25/12/2011 11:50

Pathetic small minded lazy p****s! I have no sympathy for you disgusting parasites!

– Nick, High Wycombe, UK, 25/12/2011 11:39

Another example of socialist brotherly love, I’m alright Jack.

– zek, Bolton, UK, 25/12/2011 11:08

Realy cant get over the idiotic right-wing ranting on here. All of the people whining about how they have to work a 60 hour week for minimum wage and be treated like dirt by their employers, here’s a tip…FORM A UNION!…if you tolerate being taken for fools your employers will happily accomodate you.

– tim, london, 25/12/2011 10:59

when Iwas in the police service – some time ago now – if you were required tp work any bank holiday you got time and a half either in pay or time off in lieu NOT both. That was the standard with no right to strike for any more. That was the way things were – take it or move on

– ken luck, london uk, 25/12/2011 10:57

Career progression? You mean all the staff, no matter how lowly, want to be called ‘management’ and get a massive boost in their wages? Oh, and if they don’t get it they’ll strike over Christmas and demand days off in lieu? How convenient.
It’s this something for nothing attitude that ruined this country in the 70’s.

– A. Howlett, Manchester, 25/12/2011 10:49

Goodwill to all except you, you contemptible lot, take it you will not be going near anybody that has to serve you miserable custards in pub restaurants hospital that you don’t get broke into, or call upon anyone the has to work for your convenience, hope your car does not breakdown low life of the first

– Micky12, blackpool, 25/12/2011 10:45

Sack the lot and ask them to reapply at the national average wage, with the prospect of pay rises year on year for improved performance. Might be cool to get some of the brighter young unemployed into training to take over any shortfall.
.

– joe, soton, 25/12/2011 10:45

It was this Union attitude that brought British Industry to it’s knes. Nothing changes.

– Fred Bare, London, 25/12/2011 10:36

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.