Strike action will cause major disruption to TransPennine Express train services in Sheffield until summer UK News

The rail provider is offering a reduced service this Sunday (March 20) in response to a walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union.

The train operator has published a modified timetable which will lead to a significant reduction in the services available.

But this is just the first of seven days of a strike by TransPennine Express (TPE) drivers which will run for consecutive weekends until the start of summer.

They are scheduled to take place every Sunday until April 3, after which they will also take place on Saturdays and Sundays until June 5.

Passenger tickets will be accepted on Northern, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, CrossCountry, Lumo, LNER, ScotRail, Hull Trains and Transport for Wales. Ticket acceptance is also in place for FirstBus services in West Yorkshire. Some restrictions may apply.

Kathryn O’Brien, Director of Customer Experience for TransPennine Express, said: ‘This will be the sixth weekend that the RMT strike will impact customers across our network, at a time when more and more are returning to the rail and rely on our services to get to work or visit friends and family.

“Due to the strike, we will only be able to run a relatively small number of trains on Sunday, and we urge people to avoid travel and instead travel back and forth on the day of the strike.”

The union says members are on strike to protest the “attack on wages” and the rollback of improvements.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said in a statement on March 4: ‘If you want to see an example of gross injustice, compare the treatment of essential key railway workers with the frankly revolting profits of the owners of TransPennine .

“Managers talk devoutly about passenger disruption, but their companies take millions from our railways with the connivance of a ruthless government.

“TransPennine Express could spend less time trying to line up its dividend payments and start funding pay justice for hard-working staff.”