Rail Delivery Group responds to further RMT strikes set for August

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, said: “This is a hugely disappointing announcement from the RMT's leadership which will upset passengers’ summer plans, undermine struggling businesses and upend the industry’s recovery.

"We want to give our people an increase in pay, but asking taxpayers to shoulder more of the burden when they have already contributed £600 per household during the pandemic, or expecting passengers to fund it by paying more for their tickets, isn’t fair or sustainable. Instead, we have a responsibility to  make changes to long-outdated working practices so we can adapt to post-covid travel patterns, bring our railway up to date and give our passengers a more punctual and reliable service.

"Rather than staging counterproductive strikes, we ask the RMT's leadership to continue talking so we can come to a deal that works for our people, our passengers and for taxpayers."