Unions have demanded better protection for frontline rail staff from irate passengers as cancellations and delays continued on the Govia Thameslink Railway and Northern rail lines. The RMT said numerous platform staff and onboard crew had been verbally abused, taking the brunt of frustration after a new timetable was introduced on Sunday – with the service deteriorating through the week. Dozens of peak-time cancellations affecting lines around Manchester and London on the first weekday of the new schedule led to widespread anger on what unions dubbed “meltdown Monday”. Official performance measures for Northern trains improved on Thursday, ironically, due to a strike by RMT guards that meant Arriva Rail North was operating to a reduced strike timetable. Network Rail and Northern have commissioned an independent into the problems with the timetable change.

Source: The Guardian May 25, 2018 12:53 UTC