FURTHER rail strikes “have not been ruled out” following mass disruption to services last week. 

Travel plans of thousands of rail passengers in Sussex have been affected by the three days of strike action by the RMT union in the last week.

Members of the union walked out on Saturday, June 25 for the third time this week, with little sign of a breakthrough in discussions between the union and rail operators.

Many platforms have been left extremely quiet or completely deserted as approximately 80 per cent of trains were cancelled.

The Argus: Worthing train station was closed over the strike actionWorthing train station was closed over the strike action

The question now remains on if the pay dispute between Network Rail and RMT will see similar incidents occurring later in the year, or even as soon as next month.

Union head Mike Lynch said it has not ruled out further strikes given there is little sign of a solution to the deadlocked row.

Speaking to the PA news agency at a picket line outside Euston Station in central London on Saturday morning, he said: “We’re not ruling out strikes but we have not put down any dates for any strike action.

“We’re going to review with our national executive next week, who have been all the way round the country this week on the picket line, so we’re all going to get together with the leadership of the union and see where we are.

The Argus: Brighton railway station saw few passengers pass through its doors on ThursdayBrighton railway station saw few passengers pass through its doors on Thursday

“We are not going to name dates immediately and we’re going to continue working constructively with the companies to strike a deal, but that is a really steep challenge at the moment because of the agenda they’ve got and the effects they want on our members.

“Strike action is not ruled out and it will have to take place if we do not get a deal, but we’re hoping that we can get a deal and we get some compromise.

“What we try to do is have the most effective strike action if it needs to take place. We’re not just pretending. 

“It’s got to be a coherent and effective strike action because we don’t want to waste our members’ energy on something that doesn’t work. We’ll review that and see what we need to do if we need to take that action.”