Train strike threat abates

Unions fear guards will be reduced to "KitKat sellers"

Only one of the 20 rail companies threatened by Monday's guards' strike is still facing the prospect of disruption.

Rail union bosses have so far failed to reach agreement with c2c (formerly LTS Rail).

Midland Mainline has stopped the planned strike on its services after obtaining a court injunction.

Strikes were the last things our customers needed

Mike Carroll
First Great Western

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) called strikes for Monday and 4 July because of fears over guards' diminishing safety role.

The 18 remaining operators threatened have all reached settlements with the union.

Judge Langan QC, sitting at the High Court in Leeds, granted an injunction to "restrain the action threatened for next week" by RMT members working for Midland Mainline.

He ruled that the strike ballot was unlawful because of what he called a "catalogue of errors" in the creation of the list of those eligible to vote.

Three operating companies who do not employ guards, Thameslink, West Anglia Great Northern and Gatwick Express, should run as normal.

Deal struck

The RMT struck a deal with First Great Western on Friday morning to halt strike action.

Managing director Mike Carroll welcomed the settlement.

"Strikes were the last things our customers needed and now we will be able to operate our timetable service as normal," he said.

The biggest rail union announced the strike decision after a ballot of its 5,200 guard members.