Travellers to Glastonbury may be hit by nationwide rail strikes

Travelling to Glastonbury could be an issue for festival-goers this year as national train strikes are confirmed towards the end of June.

Glastonbury will be running from June 2 to 26 whilst the RMT union strikes are said to go ahead on June 21, 23 and 25 — meaning that travel may be disrupted for those heading to the festival on Tuesday 21 and Thursday 23.

The RMT announced that: “over 50,000 railway workers will walk out as part of three days of national strike action later this month, in the biggest dispute on the network since 1989”.

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RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Railway workers have been treated appallingly and despite our best efforts in negotiations, the rail industry with the support of the government has failed to take their concerns seriously.

“We have a cost-of-living crisis, and it is unacceptable for railway workers to either lose their jobs or face another year of a pay freeze when inflation is at 11.1% and rising. Our union will now embark on a sustained campaign of industrial action which will shut down the railway system.”

Lynch continued: “Rail companies are making at least £500m a year in profits, whilst fat cat rail bosses have been paid millions during the Covid-19 pandemic. This unfairness is fuelling our members anger and their determination to win a fair settlement.”

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Network Rail’s chief executive Andrew Haines added: “There are two weeks until the first strike is planned. We will use this time to keep talking to our unions and, through compromise and common sense on both sides, we hope to find a solution and avoid the damage that strike action would cause all involved.”

Glastonbury's line-up includes Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar and Diana Ross as well as a slew of electronic names including Four Tet, Bicep, and Caribou.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter