Dozens join picket line at Brighton station as rail strike action continues

Rail passengers are suffering fresh travel misery as tens of thousands of workers strike again in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) and Unite walked out for 24 hours on Saturday, affecting Network Rail and a number of train companies across the country.

Workers and supporters have joined the picket line in Brighton this morning, holding flags and signs. 

Picket line out Brighton Station this morning. Credit: alpha6photography

Only around one in five trains are expected to run on Saturday, with some areas having no services all day, as the unions stage their second stoppage in three days.

Sunday morning train services will also be affected by the knock-on effect of the action.

Southern and Thameslink are warning passengers to only travel if necessary.

Football and cricket fans, tourists and holidaymakers are among those affected by the disruption.

The sides are as far apart as ever in resolving the row despite months of talks aimed at breaking the deadlock, with increasing union anger at the refusal of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to get involved in negotiations.

The strike follows a walkout on Friday by London Underground workers and some bus drivers in the capital in separate disputes, which caused travel chaos.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch rejected suggestions that rail workers would agree to the current offer on the table if the union put it to a vote.

Asked on BBC Breakfast on Saturday whether he has evidence to the contrary, Mr Lynch said: “Absolutely, I did a meeting on Wednesday evening the night before the strike of 14,000 RMT members in an online rally and our members are out today demonstrating.

“I speak to thousands of our members every week, we consult at least 600 Network Rail reps on a weekly basis, and we know exactly what the mood of our members is.”