Network Rail strike threatens to disrupt Bank Holiday travellers
Britain's train stations are set to descend into chaos this Bank Holiday weekend as Virgin announce that they have cancelled all of their West Coast services for Monday.
The company have also revealed that their East Coast service will be operating on a limited schedule as a result of the planned Network Rail strike.
Virgin are suggesting that customers planning to travel on the affected days should travel on Sunday 24 May or later in the week as their tickets will still be valid.
According to the Independent this would be the rail industry's most significant strike action of the last 20 years.
The Network Rail strike action has been called for Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 May in a dispute over pay.
Discussions between Network Rail and the RMT and TSSA unions may carry on into the weekend before a resolution is reached.
Widespread disruption is expected and many other rail operators will also be affected, including: CrossCountry Trains, Chiltern Railways and First Great Western among others, the BBC reports.
Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne has said that rail passengers should not rely on unions calling off the strike action.
He added that the strike would cause "maximum disruption to families trying to enjoy the half-term break and millions more returning to work after the bank holiday".
According to the Telegraph a spokesman for the AA said: "Bank holidays are always busy on the roads but the rail strike is the joker in the pack.
"We expect Friday night and Saturday to be very busy as families head off for half-term breaks and then Monday evening to be hectic as people come back from long weekends and day trips."
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