A planned strike by more than 40,000 Network Rail workers and more than a dozen train companies will go ahead next week, after the latest talks broke down.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union from 14 train operating companies and Network Rail will go on strike on Wednesday 27 July in a dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
There will also be a stand by members of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) who work for the company Avanti West Coast on the same day.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Strike action will take place next Wednesday as planned and our members are more determined than ever to get a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions.
“Network Rail has not improved its previous pay offer and the train companies have not offered us anything new.
“Indeed, Network Rail has upped the ante, threatening to impose compulsory redundancies and unsafe 50% cuts to maintenance work if we do not withdraw our planned strike action.
“Train operating companies have put driver-only operations on the table along with pillaging our members’ terms and conditions.
“RMT will continue to trade in good faith, but no one will be bullied or misled.
“The government must stop its interference in this dispute so that the rail employers can reach a negotiated settlement with us.”
Network Rail accused the union of “walking away” from talks that could have averted strike action, rejecting a two-year 8% deal with a guarantee of no redundancies.
The RMT strike will come just over a month after three days of industrial action in June.
Tim Shoveller, lead negotiator for Network Rail, said: “Once again the RMT executive has walked away from ongoing and constructive talks which could have prevented next week’s strike and it is now very clear that the its political campaign takes precedence over representing the interests of its members.”
Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter, every weekday morning at 7am BST
Transport for London (TfL) services will be affected by the disruption as it uses sections of track that are under the jurisdiction of Network Rail.
Further disruption is likely on Thursday with a later start to services as signaling staff return to work.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport described it as a “cynically timed attempt to derail the start of the Commonwealth Games”.
They added: “The rail industry needs to be modernized and brought into the 21st century for the benefit of passengers and staff. We are very disappointed to see that, rather than staying at the table, RMT executives have opted to walk out once again. We continue to encourage RMT to do the right thing for both its members and passengers and call off the strikes.”