COMMUTERS and other rail users are facing major disruption next week after workers at several train companies, including West Midlands Railway, voted to strike.
There will be no trains to or from Droitwich Spa via Birmingham New Street, Worcester and Hereford line between Tuesday and Saturday, with minor amendments to the service on Monday.
This means those living in the area will have to get three buses – the 144, 144A and a Birmingham bus if they want to travel to the Second City on the affected days.
Workers and schoolchildren who need to get to Worcester will have to use the 144.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) will be taking action next week meaning there will be no trains at all.
WMR customer experience director, Jonny Wiseman said the RMT’s action was ‘very disappointing’ and urged people only to use trains if it was absolutely necessary and they had no other transport option is available to them.
“Passengers holding tickets or season tickets will be entitled to refunds and should visit our website for information.”
Passenger assistance will still be available on the services that are still running.
RMT called for a face-to-face meeting with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday to try and avert strike action.
The strike is over pay and job losses, and in a letter to Grant Shapps, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the Treasury was ‘calling the shots’ and was not allowing rail employers to come to a negotiated settlement with the union.
Coun Alan Humphries from the Droitwich Rail User Action Group said: “Whilst I completely understand the misery this will cause the people of Droitwich and others, striking is always a last resort for anyone and the workers must have felt backed into a corner knowing they aren’t going to get paid while they’re on strike.”
