What were the reasons behind the 24 hour RMT strike over guards on the Merseyrail network?

What were the reasons behind the 24 hour RMT strike over guards on the Merseyrail network?

What were the reasons behind the 24 hour RMT strike over guards on the Merseyrail network?

                                           

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RMT strike (Merseyrail and Northern Rail) 3rd March 2018 outside Liverpool Lime Street

RMT strike 3rd March 2018 Merseyrail Northern Rail strike Liverpool Lime Street
RMT strike 3rd March 2018 Merseyrail Northern Rail strike Liverpool Lime Street

Saturday (3rd March 2018) saw another one day strike by RMT on both the Merseyrail and Northern Rail train networks, both strikes are over the issue of guards and public safety.

Pictured above was the protest outside Liverpool Lime Street train station, Liverpool on a cold and snowy morning.

Out talking to the public yesterday in both Liverpool and Southport, I was told by a number of people who instead of taking the Merseyrail train journeys they would normally, they were instead taking buses.
Continue reading “What were the reasons behind the 24 hour RMT strike over guards on the Merseyrail network?”

What’s in 143 pages of the contract between Merseytravel and Stadler Bussnang AG for new trains that caused the strike?

What’s in 143 pages of the contract between Merseytravel and Stadler Bussnang AG for new trains that caused the strike?

What’s in 143 pages of the contract between Merseytravel and Stadler Bussnang AG for new trains that caused the strike?

                                               

1 Letter from Merseytravel to John Brace 18th August 2017
1 Letter from Merseytravel to John Brace 18th August 2017

This continues from Monday’s blog post What’s in 138 pages of the contract between Merseytravel and Stadler Bussnang AG for new trains that caused the strike?

Today is another day of strike action this week on the Merseyrail network.

The strike action stems from a contract for new rolling stock agreed by politicians in December 2016 and signed in February 2017.

Although I published half of what I was given of this contract on Monday, some of it has been withheld on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

Of particular interest at page 299 onwards is the variation procedure (Merseytravel could vary the contract to have the doors operated by the guards if they wished to). On Wednesday the RMT Union published a letter sent by Merseyrail to guards suggesting that they retrain as drivers.
Continue reading “What’s in 143 pages of the contract between Merseytravel and Stadler Bussnang AG for new trains that caused the strike?”

What’s in 138 pages of the contract between Merseytravel and Stadler Bussnang AG for new trains that caused the strike?

What’s in 138 pages of the contract between Merseytravel and Stadler Bussnang AG for new trains that caused the strike?

What’s in 138 pages of the contract between Merseytravel and Stadler Bussnang AG for new trains that caused the strike?

                                               

1 Letter from Merseytravel to John Brace 18th August 2017
1 Letter from Merseytravel to John Brace 18th August 2017

As detailed on this blog in the stories Why are there 3 further days of strike action on the Merseyrail network this month? and What did Cllr Gordon Friel answer when asked about guards and the Merseyrail strike? today is one of three days of strike action this week on the Merseyrail network.

The strike action stems from a contract for new rolling stock agreed by politicians in December 2016 and signed in February 2017.

I requested a copy of this contract once the 16-17 financial year had ended during the 30 working day inspection period. Unfortunately Merseytravel both supplied it late outside the 30 working day inspection period and insisted that various parts of it should be withheld on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

I had requested it be supplied electronically as they had done the year before with various contracts and invoices including the contract with Merseyrail. This request was denied and it was supplied in paper form.

Roughly the first half of what I was sent is below (as I’ve just got around to having the time to scan it in). Some is blacked out and the entire specification is withheld on grounds of commercial confidentiality (something I have disputed with Merseytravel to no avail).

Hopefully it’ll help with the ongoing public debate about the new trains.

Merseytravel and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have a legal duty to make environmental information (such as this contract) available to the public by electronic means.

Continue reading “What’s in 138 pages of the contract between Merseytravel and Stadler Bussnang AG for new trains that caused the strike?”

Why are Bombardier suing Merseytravel over the contract for new trains?

Why are Bombardier suing Merseytravel over the contract for new trains?

Why are Bombardier suing Merseytravel over the contract for new trains?

                                           

Councillor Steve Foulkes (Lead Member for Finance and Organisational Development) (left) at a Merseytravel Committee meeting
Councillor Steve Foulkes (Lead Member for Finance and Organisational Development) (left) at a Merseytravel Committee meeting

Edited 26.11.17 to include link to Hansard report of parliamentary debate and also text of first two pages of Particulars of Claim.

I’ve written previously about the large sum that Merseytravel is spending to defend a legal challenge brought by Bombardier over the procurement of new trains on the Merseyrail network.

You can read a decision by The Hon Mr Justice Coulson as to whether the Particulars of Claim are confidential here. That decision decides that the Particulars of Claim are not confidential.
Continue reading “Why are Bombardier suing Merseytravel over the contract for new trains?”