MORE strikes planned by rail workers threaten to bring significant disruption to travel plans over the August bank holiday weekend.
The RMT (Rail and Maritime Transport) union plans industrial action on Sunday, August 23, and then again on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, August 29-31. Train operator First Great Western said that if the strike goes ahead, there will be no train services on Cornish branch lines – and a reduced service on the main line.
Cancellations in South East Cornwall will affect the Plymouth-Gunnislake, Liskeard-Looe and Newquay-Par branch lines.
The industrial action is continuing over potential job losses, the loss of the buffet car, and plans to introduce driver-operated doors, when a new fleet of trains is introduced.
First Great Western managing director Mark Hopgood said: ‘Our plans mean more train managers on board our trains, not less. The key issue remains that we want the driver to close the doors – which is fundamental to our ability to run faster, more frequent services.’