Talks due over Network Rail strike
Talks aimed at averting a strike by thousands of Network Rail workers over the bank holiday will be held today at the conciliation service.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union is planning a 24-hour walkout from 5pm on Monday May 25, and a 48-hour ban on overtime.
The union is warning that rail services will be at a standstill on Tuesday morning after Bank Holiday Monday if the strike goes ahead.
The RMT is warning that rail services will be at a standstill on Tuesday morning if the strike goes ahead
Union members have rejected a four-year deal worth £500 this year and three years of increases matching RPI inflation as well as a no compulsory redundancy commitment to December 2016.
Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association have also voted for a strike.
Union leaders will meet NR bosses for talks at Acas.
The proposed strike means that football fans from Norwich City and Middlesbrough could clock up 29.4 million miles between them if they have to drive to Wembley for the Championship play-off final, according to the AA.
AA Route Planner estimates that the Boro fans will need to drive 248 miles each way via the A19, A1 and M1, which should take four hours, thirty-one minutes.
Norwich fans have it slightly better with a one-way trip of 119.45 miles via the new improved A11 taking two hours and forty-five minutes.
Edmund King, AA president and Norwich City fan, said: "The fans of Norwich and Middlesbrough will be delighted that they are going to Wembley but the proposed rail strike may mean it is a long, slow trip home. Parking will also be in scarce supply so fans are urged to sign up to take official coaches to Wembley and back.
"The roads will also be busy as returning football fans will be hitting the road as bank holiday day-trippers make their way home. It has been a long, hard journey for the teams to get to Wembley and now it seems it may be a long, hard slog for the fans to get home."
