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GREAT im 16 and i WAS going for a audition in London through those days. But now i cant .. how do they expect independant teenagers to do things without public transport? we cant drive and if we have no family that does drive were screwed!! Thanks you selfish arses!! you get more money than alot of other people anyway!! theres plenty of people that would gladly have you job for your wages. Your just selfish. Jess,16

- Jess, Essex, 01/04/2010 18:41
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:'(
Why would they be so selfish?
I am a fifteen year old girl who has paid out money for train journeys to see the first ever concert I've ever been to.
We've paid for journey there, journey back and the concert. It was always my dream, and now its at stake, just because of TSSA supervisors and RMT maintenance workers. I am in tears, I'm so distraught.
I hope those people read this. They are destroying a teenage dream.
On Wednesday 8th April, if the trains are not running, I will be so annoyed. These people have no idea they're making me CRY.
Cat x

- Catriona Grange, Keighley, England, 29/03/2010 17:21
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Why can't anyone complaining about the strike just take one of your Duvet Days? Or phone in sick, you get about 10 days allowance don't you? I feel sorry for all the bars in the City which are going to loose trade on Friday afternoon, as nobody goes back to the office after lunch do they? You can have a nice relaxing weekend off, oh, you do that anyway, and troll into work when you feel like it on Monday.

There may be some sweeping generalisations in the above statement. That wouldn't do now would it?

- Andy, South Essex, 13/08/2009 13:35
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I am absolutely appalled that the drivers of East Anglia Trains are conducting these strikes. Train drivers already earn significantly more than many nurses, police officers and firemen not to mention more than many people that hold 4 year tertiary degrees. Their demands are an absolute disgrace and make a mockery of the myriad of people who have had to train and educate for longer periods and work in much more stressful environments over longer hours for less money. Bob Crows suggestion that train drivers should earn comparable amounts to high flying city staff is utterly ridiculous, what planet is he living on? The proverbial icing on the cake is that unemployment is at its highest for many years, and many people are taking PAY CUTS to save their jobs, (many of which have to endure this insufferable fate at the hands of these people). This sheer display of greed and disdain for many commuters and other people struggling through a recession is absolutely unacceptable. I would proposed that National Express make all of these rogue strikers redundant and re advertise their jobs for less money as 'Im sure there will be no shortage of applicants

- Peter, Chelmsford, UK, 12/08/2009 21:26
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I think the drivers and their unions seem to have missed the point here. It has been proven on many lines around the world, that the role of a train driver is now wholly redundant. With (an albeit significant) expense, trains, lines and signals can be modified to run automatically removing any need for a train 'driver' at all. By acting in this way; demanding wage increases for an entirely unskilled role, particularly in the current environment, they only draw attention to their own fragile existence. At some point in the future, train 'driving' will be a role only for the history books, much like a lift operator is seen today. The only long term outcome of this action will be to accelerate the demise of their own positions. In the meantime, why not open all 'driver' positions to the general labour market? Training in the precision pressing of Stop & Go buttons/ levers, whilst i'm sure extremely taxing on the brain, could surely be done in a matter of weeks.

- Andrew M, London, UK., 06/08/2009 12:37
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well said rod shame you know nothing we are already on a 4 day week. NOT inc Sundays 24hour signing on. Oh and our above inflation pay offer was 0.0% sorry i think they failed to mention they wanted £800 back off us for that. you are welcome to join me any day of the week for all my lovely 3am starts that last anything up to 10 hours

- Tom Herts, hertford, 05/08/2009 16:20
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Could someone please explain what the strike is over. Surely they are not striking for an above inflation pay rise and a four day week as reported. I would like to know the facts can anyone help?

- Judy, Chelmsford, 04/08/2009 23:15
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I'm due to travel to London on Thu on the train as the first leg of a holiday to the South Coast but as much as I'll be gutted if I don't make the hol, I wish all those on strike good luck.

Most of the people leaving comments here are so obsessed by money that they can't see that strikes are more often about conditions or security rather than money.

I hope the greedy people in charge at National Express and other similar soulless money making machines start to place value on service rather than profit at all costs - every other country I've been to has a better rail infrastructure than the UK because the profit is re-invested rather than bled dry by fat wallets.

- Ben, Norwich, 04/08/2009 21:14
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To everyone with all their astounding comments which are making strong suggestions that they think we have it easy on the railways, I'd like to recommend that they come and work with me on the night shift
With respect, you may just eat your words!
You have to be a particular type of person to work on the railway and the only well for anybody to understand that, is to exerience it!

- Anon, Hertfordshire, 04/08/2009 19:06
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As a National Rail employee that actually shows sympathy for the passengers that are caught in delays, strikes etc.
I suffered the Underground strike aswell. I pay full priced fares just like you guys and as a result had to take annual leave aswell as a number of colleagues of mine.

I believe National Rail employees should be entitled to increased pay, simply because of the grief we get by a minority of the public and our trains seem to be the target of yobbish behaviour at least once a month.
However, in this climate, fighting for pay in this climate is just utter stupidity.

As a Customer Service worker, we often get sworn at, spat at, verbally abused, threatened etc
Our "lovely" senior - directors indirectly tell us we should not challenge anti social behaviour, but in fact turn a blind eye rather than challenge.
I have heard of many stories where we have challenged anti social individuals, including one company that sacked an employee for defending his passengers under attack by a gang of yobs. Nowadays many of us, are affraid to challenge anti social behaviour because of the threat of being sacked.
Private Railways, don't want to pay out insurance costs for their employees.
This to me, suggests to the customer that they'll take your money, but if you are feeling intimidated, you're on your own!
I can to a certain degree understand why the unions behave in a bullish manner towards rail directors now.

- Anon, Hertfordshire, 04/08/2009 18:49
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I'd like to see a ticket inspector on the train Thursday or Friday, i could finally put use to those pebbles i picked up on the beach!

- Cheryl, chelmsford, Essex, 04/08/2009 09:59
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Commuters already pay a crippling amount in fares for a service which is lamentable. The fragment of the transport system that is National Express East Anglia is in danger of losing its East Coast franchise as a consequence of recessionary factors. Choosing to strike for higher wages and shorter hours at this time will totally alienate any support from the travelling public now and for the future. It will also in my view bring closer the day when really radical commercial steps will have to be taken if the railway is to remain in private hands. The strike is madness and not in the bests interests of those involved.

- Tim, Ipswich, 31/07/2009 11:29
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Oh please Frank do us a favour and stop with the jealously thing. We all have elements of our job which suck but we dont all call a strike over it. I work in the financial industry too and some elements of my job, such as working all night for over 24 hours and coming in at weekends and being at the beck and call of clients 24 /7 suck but I didnt go on strike when I was told this year there was to be no pay rise or bonus - no I just get on with it. Why should train drivers be any different? they are hardly working down the mines or in some really dangerous job for a pittance. Get of your high horse and actually read our comments for what they are - jealous, NO I dont think any of us are. Fed up to the back teeth with this is more like it!

- Nat, London, 30/07/2009 13:19
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Stu from Beckton,

The jealousy is clear to see in quite a few comments from posters who are having a pay freeze or cut, not earning the same money as train drivers or getting decent holidays and other benefits.

Sorry to disappoint you again but I am not a train driver but I do sit in my armchair, just doing a few day trades on the FTSE most days. It would be absolutely terrible to have to get up at 4.00am to go in for an early shift in the Winter like the poor train staff, they deserve every penny they get for doing unsocial hours.

- Frank, London, 30/07/2009 11:23
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I feel sorry for the poor people who have employers that will expect them to be in work or take it as holiday or unpaid leave. For the first time in weeks I'm actually happy to be unemployed so that I will not need to fight my way into the office Thursday and Friday for no thanks whatsoever. Lot's of employers are expecting more for less in every industry but that does not give them the right to do whatever they want. Its time for workers to stop living in fear of what their employers are going to do next. I just discovered that the cash strapped management of my old firm who froze our pay and shed 10% of the workforce have just paid themselves a £3m bonus (shared between 4 of them)! Go figure...

- Bob The Unemployed, Southend, Essex, 29/07/2009 23:50
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I think it is an absolute disgrace. Admittedly I do not know what the drivers must endure or their pay conditions are like, however I do know of a friend that is undoing radio therapy for cancer and uses the Liverpool street line. I am self employed and like many others do not get paid if I fail to turn up to work. Rather than moan and strike about not having a pay increase but a pay cut in the last 2 years now totalling 30%. Where is Bob Crowe's sympathy to us other hard working people who are also being affected by this goverment but you don't us striking!

- Jim, Hertfordshire, UK, 29/07/2009 21:36
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Charlie, bishop's stortford, england...
Oh dear, if only you knew how many people thought that when they became train drivers and now find themselves being "specially monitored".
The trouble is that today you have people taking on a train drivers job because the money IS good. When it was poor, right up to past the mid 90s, you had people joining the railway because they had an interest in the job itself and not just the take home pay.
And - no, I'm not a train driver...But I know a man who is.

- Rodders, Feltham SWTland, 29/07/2009 18:06
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I find that it is insensitive and does not chime with the mood of the nation when the RMT takes strike action...

Such action makes the journey for already stressed out busy commuters much worse.... furthermore the Unions pay demands for their staff members at a time when people are losing their jobs or a lucky to keep theirs is particularly insensitive....

However.... the way that the Train Operating Comapnies (TOC's) rip off the Passengers and particularly Commuters with extortionate rail fares.... and deliver an unrealiable and disgusting overall service.... I would not be at all surprised to see very poor staff relations at the hands of an arrogant and out of touch Management....

After all whenever a Train Comapny spokesman goes on the record - ie local TV - presenting cuts to services as "Improvements".... or making excuses for dreadful service.... I would not put anything past the Deluded Idiots that are running the Private Train Companies....

Sure the Unions are being insensitive over pay.... however I would be inclined to support then over the disaster of Rail Privatisation.... and working conditions....

- James Thurston, Daventry, Northamptonshire, 29/07/2009 17:57
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Both myself and my husband have had a pay freeze this year and are now looking at losing 16 days pay bertween us if we aren't able to get in on strike days. This is almost one months salary that we can't afford to loose.
As an essential service to thousands of people a week I personally think the train drivers shouldn't be allowed to strike so they can no longer hold us all to ransom.

- Julie, Chelmsford Essex, 29/07/2009 17:43
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Frank - I haven't read anything remotely resembling "jealousy" on here.

Jealous of what, exactly?

You must be a train "driver".

- Stu, Beckton, 29/07/2009 17:27
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I wonder if one day I'll hear someone say it is the travelling public (the customer) who puts up the money to run a transport company and its trade union members?
When company executives and union boses stay in luxury hotels do they spare a thought for the take-home pay earned by those who wait on them at table or service their rooms?
At a time when poor financial investments are made by by the hour by risk-taking CEOs and more grass can be seen growing between railway lines than you can see in a municipal park, is it n ot time for all parties involved to clear their heads?

- Peter Seekings-Foster, Mildenhall, Suffolk., 29/07/2009 17:25
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I would certainly close down the Railway until they saw sense and offer them re-employment on 50% salaries or no dole money. I would also have all commuter lines subsidised out of the exorbitant Council Tax and introduce unmanned shuttle trains.

Then with the money saved on Driver and guard’s pay, I would reduce fares once more, if this rubbish government were really eco friendly Train travel would be free or heavily discounted.

Labour couldn’t run a party in a Brewery.

- Peterb, Chelmsford, Essex, 29/07/2009 17:14
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They are getting in their practice runs prior to the olympics - just wait until 2012.

You ain't seen nothing yet!

- Mrs, London UK, 29/07/2009 17:13
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So just another normal service then on Friday?

- Triffidqueen, Desk in London, 29/07/2009 17:05
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This makes my blood boil. I have to try and battle in otherwise I'll be forced to take the time off as holiday. Why should I, and others who have commented here, have to sacrifice holiday on top of having any pay increase frozen, no bonus and just to stick the boot in, an increase in travel costs for a service that sucks quite frankly. I'd like any train personnel to think long and hard about the rest of us before tomorrow and fridays strikes. The rest of us arent getting increased pay for less hours, why should yous lot?

- Nat, London, 29/07/2009 15:58
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J.Knight of Harold Wood moans that the National Express staff get Xmas Day and Boxing Day off. Well would you believe it J .Knight but the drivers have families too to spend the Festive season with. Obviously Christmas doesn't mean much to whingers like you.
There are some sensible comments on here but as usual the moaners, who have had pay cuts or freezes, poor holiday alowances and no job security, are back again biting at the bit.

Why did none of you go for this lovely job when there were plenty of vacancies? - because you were then better off in your private sector job perhaps?
Now the tables are turning against you, there is nothing you can do but post your frustrations and jealousy on here..... shame ain't it?

- Frank, London, 29/07/2009 15:48
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The email i received from RMT in response to a complaint about this states that just because everyone else has gotten a poor deal because of the recession, doesn't mean that their members should settle for crumbs. Apparently, if more people became trade union members then we would be better placed to negotiate better pay deals, which i am inferring means we only have ourselves to blame.

They also claim that they HAVE NOT been offered a salary increase; just a "miserable lump sum" and not a penny onto their salary.

- James, London, 29/07/2009 15:39
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Striking during the present economic climate is insane and ASLEF is not doing it's members any favours. Right now there are many people who would be grateful to have any job and with the state National Express is in, the drivers should be happy to get a salary, let alone expect a pay rise.

- Pollybelle, Harlow, Essex, 29/07/2009 15:33
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Yes Charlie,lets take a few off the dole and let them loose with a hundred or so tons of train and 200 passengers.The results should be interesting.

- Colin, barking essex, 29/07/2009 15:22
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More back to 1979. Cameron and the expense fraudsters of his party are looking positively electable.

- Bj, London, 29/07/2009 14:49
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Strike? In this economic climate? They should be praying they still have jobs to complain about!!
There is almost 6 million out there struggling to find one!
Ungrateful people....

- N, London, 29/07/2009 14:39
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Anyone who strikes should be sacked and replaced with someone who appreciates the fact they have a job in the current Economic climate...
Im sick of the 'paying commuters' having to suffer, while Staff winged about their pay, its not a stressful or Brain taxing job,its good pay and prob includes free travel!

- Ben, Suffolk, 29/07/2009 14:31
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Colin, Bristol - so because the union deny saying that, it immediately means they're telling the truth and the train company is lying?

Is it not possible that they actually did demand this and it's them that are lying by claiming otherwise?

Only, I seem to recall that every time there's a train strike, whether it's on the tube or the overground, over pay, the unions are always saying that they haven't made excessive demands. Every single time.

It's an absolute disgrace that this is allowed to happen, especially, as mentioned previously, since our unemployment level is so high - there will be thousands of people that would willingly do the job. And I shudder to think what Bob Crow and his ilk will be like when when the Olympics come to town, he must be positively rubbing his hands at the thought of having the train companies over a barrel for that one.

I'm in a fortunate position to be able to work from home while they're striking, but feel genuine pity for those that aren't so lucky. After all, it's they who are the victims in this, not the train drivers who don't consider being in a safe job with a guaranteed pay rise every year to be enough.

- Joe, Romford, 29/07/2009 14:25
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I guess we will have to wait and see how this one turns out - the last tube strike left Bob Crow looking like a bit of a fool.
Always amusing to read the "sack them all" comments - and I wonder if Charlie and Rod have ever driven a high speed commuter train?

- Jim, London, UK, 29/07/2009 14:02
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Why don't the unions publish what thier demands are, instead of denying what the company says. Then let the public make up their own minds. also clarification on the vote for a strike would be helpful, what percentage actually voted for a strike out of the whole union membership. Wont the Drivers lose more money striking for 8 days than getting a small percentage salary increase.
Go to work and get on with the job your paid to do like we all have to. Or we would if we had any trains to get us there!

- Scrimper, Essex, 29/07/2009 13:57
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Colin, Bristol

I don't normally reply to comments from people who write but don't actually have an opinion. I make this an exeption.

The unions are protecting their members, in their own lovely Edwardian ways. The management need to run train services, thus earn the shareholders money. The point I was getting across, as many have, is the train drivers have an easy life and most of them don't actually want to strike (my brother-in-law drives trains from north Essex to Liverpool Street). For a union to strike in this current rubbish climate is just stupidity. There is nothing to gain, and maybe the drivers should just be sacked (sorry John).

THAT was what I was saying.

- Rod, Epping, UK, 29/07/2009 13:53
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Whatever they want, in this economic climate their demands are unreasonable. We already pay a small fortune to use what is an unreliable service on shoddy, poorly maintained trains. Their increased wages would only come from one place, us!! So they think this will help? They've even less intelligence than I gave them credit for prior to this.

- Ian, Essex, 29/07/2009 13:46
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Charlie - I'm with you. If this is true, it's outstandingly ridiculous behaviour.

- Liz H, London, 29/07/2009 13:01
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Really looking forward to my journey tomorrow-NOT! I've had a pay freeze, no bonus and sometimes work a 7 day week yet I feel lucky to have a job! What are they complaining about now - Bob Crow and his cronies should try living in the real world! I'm sick of being held to ransom by the transport system they should be banned from striking!

- Jude, Enfield, 29/07/2009 12:22
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Train strike? I'm sure when the RMT discover that contrary to earlier forecasts, as it won't be a nice sunny day or that there isn't a big sporting event on the telly, then they will simply call it off.
A pity because I think they should strike permanently. Just refuse to go to work at all for years on end. Then perhaps the employers could find people who actually WANT to do the job.

Meanwhile back at the RMT 'front lines'

What do we want?
"One days work for a wholly exorbitant months pay!"

When do we want it?
"Every day, just mail the cash to us so we don't have to get out of bed!"

Glad I dumped commuting by train (after 20 years of it) two years ago. I refuse to be held hostage by these oxygen thieves ever again. A plague on your house Mr Crow.

- Ethan, UK, 29/07/2009 12:02
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Rod,and Charlie,take your blinkers off guys,and re read the 3rd to last paragraph again,or do you only believe what the employers are saying?

- Colin, Bristol, 29/07/2009 11:54
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At least they will get a payrise and they probably have the best job security of anyone I know .. I am on my second year of a payfreeze but still have to pay huge fares to travel to work and no freeze on that for me. I will have to make it in somehow or lose holiday, but hey their 4 day week is clearly so much more important than that.

Get rid of them all, there are a lot of much smarter unemployed people available right now - make them realise they are less than irreplacable.

- Louise, Essex, 29/07/2009 11:52
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There is always a propaganda war from both sides.

I honestly believe that both sides in a dispute that involves public services, especially transport shoud be forced to submit documents clearly stating what these matters are all about.

Propaganda is a funny old thing, do you see Mandy on newsnight last night, the new official Labour message is " did you see the glee of the Conservatives when they were telling us about the cuts they were going to make in public services" so before long it will be " eat the homeless " not " give them cake"

- Steve M, London, 29/07/2009 11:37
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They have Xmas, Boxing Day and all public holidays off. People without their own transport dependant on this line are effectively trapped - but National Express do not apologise or refund the money spent on unprovided services. The sooner they lose their franchise the better - both First Great Eastern and One provided a far more reliable service. Boris - he does nothing, despite the fact that many people who voted for him live in the affected areas - not a good sign for his re-election

- J. Knight, Harold Wood, 29/07/2009 11:33
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What a ridiculous time to call a strike. Nat Express will probably have to give up the Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street franchises due to being skint and the drivers want a four day week? Are they mad? A sense of reality needs to be understood here! I'll be a train driver on £35k+ and easy rosters any day. They don't even have to steer the bloody things.

- Rod, Epping, UK, 29/07/2009 10:39
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sack them all - plenty of unemployed would love the chance to earn what they do, it doesn't take any skill to drive a train

- Charlie, bishop's stortford, england, 29/07/2009 09:56
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