Southeastern reveal planned services during strikes

Southeastern have revealed expected services when strike action is taken in coming weeks.

A limited service will operate on the three Dartford lines on 21, 23 and 25 June with no services to Hayes. There are NO services to Cannon Street or Charing Cross with trains terminating at London Bridge.

The Dartford to Victoria service will not run.

Southeastern’s website gives some details, though it’s somewhat amusing that under a section “why is industrial action taking place” they give no details.

Thanks for the in-depth detail there.

Industrial action has been called due to the Treasury – via the Department for Transport – insisting on severe cuts to railways across the country. The payback for support during the pandemic appears to be an insistence on reducing funding by billions despite passenger number now reaching over 90 per cent of normal levels.

While Germany offers a nine euro monthly ticket to entice people back to trains, in the UK the Treasury is pushing heavy cuts.

The strike isn’t being taken by train drivers but station staff and signallers.

The RMT union say pay rises offered fall far below current inflation (and fare rises).

Bust-up

The current situation feels a long time in coming as the Treasury, DfT and unions lock horns. Indeed, it’s something that seemed likely since one of the DfT’s most senior civil servants said back in 2016 he wanted to “break” the unions.

Peter Wilkinson also stated in regards to drivers: “They have all borrowed money to buy cars and got credit cards. They can’t afford to spend too long on strike, and I will push them into that place. They will have to decide if they want to give a good service or get the hell out of my industry.”

It was about train drivers then – and he later apologised once it was publicised – but a striking thing for a senior civil servant to state.

Given that the DfT and Treasury now seek severe cuts it’s perhaps no surprise we’ve reached this crunch point – particularly with inflation now so high and pay demands coming up.

Strikes

Severe cuts are also being pushed on Transport for London by government – with strike action also underway there.

TfL propose to cut 600 station staff across the network as part of pressure to reduce budgets. Perhaps not a wise decision as the less staff, the easier it is to simply not pay to travel.

See Southeastern metro for a great example of where a lack of station staff gets you. I don’t think anyone I ever knew paid for rail for many years growing up in Abbey Wood. Many in Plumstead, Erith and places like Greenwich etc still don’t.

Why would they? Open barriers, no staff on trains and open barriers (if they exist) at many stations upon departing. If that’s the future the DfT seek on the tube and on other rail networks, then it’ll get cost more than it gains over time.