Northern Line commuters feel impact of cuts as train breakdown causes massive disruption

A broken down train on London's Northern Line this morning, leading to massive disruption the length of the line, has capped off a week of chaos for London commuters as the reality of trying to cram surging numbers of passengers into chronically overcrowded rail and tube services comes home to ‎roost. 

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;

"The impact of cuts to maintenance and staffing on rail and tube is the root cause of the chaos for passengers that has been reported every ‎single day this week. Services are constantly running on a knife edge due to years of penny pinching and profiteering  and that situation is set to get even worse against a background of surging passenger numbers. The consequences are only too obvious. 

"This dire situation cannot be allowed to drag on. The cash sucked out by the rip-off private train companies is urgently needed for investment in capacity, maintenance and staffing. That can only happen through public ownership of the whole transport operation across the board. "

> RMT National News

Wednesday, 5th August
RMT has rejected plans to introduce Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the new East West Rail line following confirmation that Chiltern Railways intends to operate services on the new route without a second safety-critical member of staff, despite RMT’s long-standing opposition to DOO.
Friday, 31st July
Cleaners on Merseyrail employed by outsourcing firm Churchill Services will take 24-hour strike action against low pay next week on Friday August 7 to Saturday August 8.
Friday, 31st July
OFFSHORE union RMT is deeply concerned by the reports surrounding BP’s future in the North Sea and the potential impact on more than 1,000 skilled workers, their families and communities.
Thursday, 30th July
Rail union RMT said that outsourced cleaners and catering workers at TransPennine Express (TPE) will take 48-hour strike action against low pay from tomorrow (Friday, July 31).
Wednesday, 29th July
Rail union RMT said that 24-hour strike action on East Midlands Railways will go ahead on Saturday August 1 after the company refused to withdraw faulty trains and talks collapsed.