Thomas De Fraye from north London was looking forward to the Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final between Germany and France in Milton Keynes – but now can’t get there because of the rail strikes.
“I was going to go after work,” he said. “Now there are no trains.”
The disruption comes as 40,000 RMT union members at Network Rail and 14 train companies take part in a fresh strike over pay, jobs, and terms.
Only 20% of train journeys are expected to go ahead on Wednesday.
Mr De Fraye said he booked his ticket for today’s Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final “many months ago before there was any news about strikes”.
He does not drive and a bus would not get him there in time for kick-off.
“I live in Enfield so it’s not even that far so I was going to go after work,” said the 37-year-old.
“Now there are no trains running and an Uber would cost me £90 one way. That price would surely increase on the day due to demand and I have to get back too.”
Mr De Fraye gave his ticket away on Twitter. “If I can help someone else go there that makes me happy,” he said.
- Which trains are running?
The Department for Transport said the RMT was “hell-bent on creating further misery for passengers across the UK”.
But the RMT accused Transport Secretary Grant Shapps of not allowing the rail industry to do a deal with the union.
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said, despite its best efforts to find a breakthrough, there would be more rail disruption due to strikes.
The knock-on effects of the disruption are expected to roll into Thursday, Network Rail said.
Separately, on Saturday, about 5,500 members of the train drivers’ union Aslef at seven rail companies will strike.
Further RMT strikes are also planned for 18 and 20 August, with London Underground staff planning to strike on 19 August.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman had urged the RMT union to call off the strikes, saying on Tuesday: “We are concerned about the impact this will have on the public going about their everyday lives.”
Places including Blackpool, Portsmouth, and Bournemouth have no train services at all and elsewhere people are being told only to travel by train if necessary.
Network Rail has published a special timetable for Wednesday, with trains set to start later and finish earlier than usual, between 07:00 and 18:30 BST.
Passengers are being warned that the last trains from London will leave for Edinburgh at 14:00, for Birmingham at 15:43, and for Manchester at 15:40.
Network Rail’s Andrew Haines said: “I can only apologize for the impact this pointless strike will have on passengers, especially those traveling for holidays or attending events such as the Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final and the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games [on Thursday].
“It is frustrating to yet again ask our passengers to change their plans and only make essential journeys.”
Network Rail said its latest pay offer was worth more than 5%, but that it depended on workers accepting “modernizing reforms”. However, the RMT union said this was a “paltry sum” and represents “a real-terms pay cut”.
IMAGE SOURCE, PA MEDIARMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The Department for Transport controls the 14 train operators we are in dispute with and Network Rail is a publicly owned company who does not have the final sign-off on any deal. That lies with the Secretary of State for Transport.
“We will continue to talk to the employers but there remains a huge chasm between us around pay, job security, and working conditions.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “RMT’s actions will affect people in need of urgent care, hardworking families off on long-awaited holidays and day trips, and businesses.”
Source: bbc.com