Rail strike called off after union talks

Two days of strike action that would have disrupted West Midlands Railway services this weekend have been suspended.

Members of the TSSA trade union were due to walk out on Friday and Saturday, with reduced services and, on some routes, no trains at all, in a dispute over rest day working payments.

The walkout would have led to delays for passengers across Birmingham and the Black Country, Wolverhampton, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire.

West Midlands Railway said following further talks with the union, the strike had been suspended and a full service with a normal timetable would go ahead.

Reduced timetables had been planned for the Cross City line, from Lichfield Trent Valley to Redditch/Bromsgrove, Wolverhampton to Walsall, and Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham International.

Services were also due to affect all routes via Birmingham Snow Hill, the Camp Hill line, Nuneaton to Leamington Spa, and Birmingham New Street to Hereford and Shrewsbury.

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at WMR, said the company was "pleased" at the suspension, as it would have been disruptive for customers.

Strike action by members of the same union went ahead earlier in the month, with services reduced on 11 and 12 July.

Members also walked out on 22 and 23 May.

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