Train strikes Newcastle 2022: when is planned action and which rail companies and routes are affected?

National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport workers (RMT) announced that further strike can be expected in the coming weeks after workers voted in favour of the action.

There was a huge turn out in voters to have their say on the strike action this year, with a 71% turnout.

In the event of railway worker strikes across Network Rail, only 20% of trains will run.

So, when and why will the strike take place?

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming action.

What has RMT said about the strikes?

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch released a statement regarding the rail strike since 1989, saying:

“Today’s turnout at picket lines has been fantastic and exceeded expectations in our struggle for job security, defending conditions and a decent pay rise.

“Our members will continue the campaign and have shown outstanding unity in pursuit of a settlement to this dispute.

“RMT members are leading the way for all workers in this country who are sick and tired of having their pay and conditions slashed by a mixture of big business profits and government policy

“Now is the time to stand up and fight for every single railway worker in this dispute that we will win.”

When is the action planned for?

RMT union representatives have confirmed that the strike action will take place on 21, 23 and 25 June.

The union released a statement saying: “rail union RMT launch 3 days of national strike action across the railway network.”

“Over 50,000 railway workers will walkout as part of 3 days of national strike action later this month, in the biggest dispute on the network since 1989.”

“The union will shut down the country’s railway network on 21st, 23rd and 25th June, due to the inability of the rail employers to come to a negotiated settlement with RMT.”

Why are union members going on strike?

The strike aims to ensure that train workers get higher wages, job security and no compulsory deductions.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch spoke on the matter following the vote. He said: "Today’s overwhelming endorsement by railway workers is a vindication of the union’s approach and sends a clear message that members want a decent pay rise, job security and no compulsory redundancies.”

The union will now be demanding urgent talks with Network Rail and the 15 train operating companies that were balloted to find a negotiated settlement to the dispute over pay, jobs and safety.

How many RMT members voted in favour of the strike?

Around 40,000 RMT members who work for Network Rail and other train companies in the UK were balloted to vote.

A massive 71% of those balloted voted on the action, with 89% of those voting in favour of strike action and 11% voting against.

What rail companies are affected by the strike?

Here is the full list of train services where staff have voted for strike action:

• Network Rail
• Chiltern Railways,
• Cross Country Trains,
• Greater Anglia,
• LNER,
• East Midlands Railway,
• c2c,
• Great Western Railway,
• Northern Trains,
• South Eastern
• South Western Railway
• Transpennine Express,
• Avanti West Coast,
• West Midlands Trains

The following company voted for action short of strike:

• GTR (including Gatwick Express)

How will trains to and from Newcastle be affected?

Going off the list of confirmed companies taking part in the strike there may be some disruption to trains departing from and arriving at Newcastle.

Customers are advised to check with their train company before travel and keep up to date on the latest updates via their website.

The following companies are taking part in the strike and also frequent Newcastle. You can check your route specifically via each companies route map linked below:

LNER

The main places this company runs trains are York, Doncaster, Peterborough and London.

However, they are a popular choice for those travelling from Newcastle to Edinburgh, and Newcastle to London.

You can find out more about where this service runs at the official route map.

Northern Trains

Northern Trains runs carriages across the Northern region of the country to the following places from Newcastle:

• Newcastle to Carlisle 
• Newcastle to Durham and Darlingtno
• Newcastle to Chathill
• Newcastle to Middlesborough 
• Newcastle to Whitby 

You can visit the railway’s official route map for more information.

Cross Country Trains

Newcastle is one of Cross Country’s named destinations for providing fast train services too.

This Service runs trains from Newcastle to the following destinations:

• Darlington
• Edinburgh
• Birmingham
• Aberdeen
• Durham 
• Leeds
• Nottingham
• Sheffield
• Glasgow

You can find out more information by visiting the official route map for Cross Country trains.

Transpennine Express

TransPennine Express (TPE) is also asking customers to plan carefully ahead of planned RMT strike action taking place this weekend on Sunday 29 May.

An amended timetable will be in place on this date, which will see a significant reduction in available services. We’re advising customers not to travel, but to plan carefully if journeys are necessary.

Transpennine Express runs trains directly from Newcastle to many destinations, so may be affected at the next strike that was announced by RMT after the vote on 24 May. The destinations include:

• Liverpool
• Manchester Airport
• Manchester Piccadilly
• Manchester Oxford Road
• York
• Durham
• Leeds
• Hull
• Middlesbrough 

You can find out more about where this service runs at the official route map.