Press releases - Rail, bus, coach and tram

Passenger Focus responds to potential strikes after Easter by maintenance workers and supervisors

26.03.2010

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said:

“Passengers will be dismayed that strike days have now been announced. Uncertainty, messed up plans and frustration are now the order of the day. Both staff and shareholders depend on passengers for the long-term financial health of the railway. All the strikes will do is put passengers off and potentially force them on to the roads where they will be much less safe. We urge Network Rail and the unions to keep talking, not shouting, and get this settled so that passengers can get back to depending on the railway.”

Passenger Focus urges Network Rail and the train companies to work together, as they plan to lessen the effect of these strikes, to:

• Relax route restrictions so that, on strike days and their aftermath, passengers can use any sensible route to get to their destination
• Take a sensible approach to ticket restrictions so that passengers can use the trains that are running
• Ensure that season ticket holders are appropriately compensated for lost days
• Have plenty of staff on hand to help passengers with information, advice and luggage.

Passenger Focus has the advice below for passengers on how to 'survive' potential strikes after Easter.

1. Check for up-to-date information on how services have been disrupted on the National Rail Enquiries website: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/2010/dispute.html or call: 08457 48 49 50

• Check before you book
• Check on the day
• Check before you set off.

2. Register for service disruption text alerts on the National Rail Enquiries website
3. Make sure your mobile telephone is fully charged before you set off
4. Take refreshments
5. Remember to make a claim if your service is disrupted. Individual train companies will outline how they will refund pre-booked tickets and recompense season ticketholders on their websites.

Ends

Notes to editors

1. Passenger Focus is the official, independent consumer organisation representing the interests of rail users nationally and from 25 February 2010, bus, coach and tram users across England outside London.  Created by the Railways Act 2005, Passenger Focus is the operating name of the Passengers’ Council. It is a body corporate, executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Transport. We want to make a difference for rail, bus, coach and tram passengers.

We’ll do this by:

• providing authoritative advice for industry based on sound research;
• securing improvements to services – both big and small-scale improvements;
• helping passengers with advice and information;
• campaigning for change;
• acting on rail passenger complaints.

2. For further information please contact:

Dervish Mertcan
Press Officer
Tel: 0300 123 0847
or e-mail:dervish.mertcan@passengerfocus.org.uk