[now cancelled] Train Strikes impact whole of BETT 2023

[elsiegee40]

Strikes Thursday 30th and Saturday 1st of April. You will need alternative transport if you’re travelling those days. And trains are likely to stop early on the Wednesday and be in short supply on the Friday

 

https://www.itv.com/news/2023-02-16/rmt-announces-fresh-rail-strike-dates-after-rejecting-latest-offer

Edited February 17, 2023 by elsiegee40

[Devontechie]

There will very limited trains on the Friday as well seems they are on strike again on the Saturday.

[foofighterjim]

Well I was on the fence about attending because of the uncertainty over the strike situation but this has put a nail in the coffin. I'll see you all next year instead.

[CHiLL]

I have train tickets booked for Thursday 30th, so I've informed our bursar and she's going to see if she can get a refund on the tickets. I think they were super cheap advanced tickets, so a refund is doubtful, but I won't be going this year then! (Unless they cancel the strikes)

[TechMonkey]

That article is confusing, says 20th in one line and 30th in another! Checking the RMT website it is definitely 30th, typical the day I was going!

[archiebaitup]

This is so annoying - 30th is the day I was going - either I'm going to have to drive, or skip it?!

[ICTDirect_Dave]

It doesn't look to be hugely drastic unless you're planning to travel on the 30th. Wednesday and Friday are unaffected.

[DrCheese]

It doesn't look to be hugely drastic unless you're planning to travel on the 30th. Wednesday and Friday are unaffected.

 

Either day will be chaotic tho, as strikes affect the days either side as people try to get home early & they wind services down safely/wind back up.

[Rob_D]

It doesn't look to be hugely drastic unless you're planning to travel on the 30th. Wednesday and Friday are unaffected.

Where are you looking?

National Rail journey planner shows trains running fine on the Wednesday and Friday, but it also shows a full timetable on the Thursday and Saturday, so I'm dubious it's been updated to reflect potential strike disruption yet.

 

Hopefully you're right as the team here is planning on going Wed and Friday.

[robslack]

They need to look at moving it out of London, I would consider attending but it is such an hassle to get to especially now it is at Excel.

[Max_Power]

Trainline and Avanti West Coast websites have removed ticket sales for the Friday as of this announcement. As with other strikes, expect trains and drivers etc to be in the wrong places the day after the strike, so they will need to redo the timetable? I can imagine it will be chaos on the Friday and seat reservations being cancelled and people standing. Even more chaotic as there is a strike on the Saturday as well.

[elsiegee40]

Apologies all. A nameless mod got us confused … It’s just Thursday 30th and Saturday April 1st. I have corrected the opening post.

 

Trains are likely to stop early on the Wednesday and be in short supply on Friday. It will still impact me on all days.

Edited February 17, 2023 by elsiegee40

[elsiegee40]

It doesn't look to be hugely drastic unless you're planning to travel on the 30th. Wednesday and Friday are unaffected.

@ICTDirect_Dave anyone arriving on Wednesday for the day will have to leave early as the trains will stop by 7. Last train from London likely to be much earlier.

 

Trains on the Friday will be patchy. They will start late and have the same early finish as Wednesday. Some may not run at all. It will impact footfall at the show hugely.

[DrCheese]

Yeah, I have a gig on the Friday so I was going to head down to BETT then go to the gig in the evening.

 

Now I probably won't bother with either as it'll be barely organised chaos getting home with a strike on either side :/

[foofighterjim]

Thanks for the clarification, doesn't really change much for me unfortunately, I'm not going to risk getting stuck somewhere or needing to stand after walking all day.

[Chclark]

@ICTDirect_Dave anyone arriving on Wednesday for the day will have to leave early as the trains will stop by 7. Last train from London likely to be much earlier.

 

Trains on the Friday will be patchy. They will start late and have the same early finish as Wednesday. Some may not run at all. It will impact footfall at the show hugely.

 

 

Urgh we are down the wednesday but had the 8:30pm train back north.

[TechMonkey]

Well, you never know, maybe they will have got it sorted by then...

[Chclark]

Well, you never know, maybe they will have got it sorted by then...

 

Hope so need to check if it effects hull trains.

Edited February 17, 2023 by Chclark

[mdrabble]

Think I’m going to have to grit my teeth and take my chances on the Friday - as need to look at screen and other kit, plus arranged meetings with some reps.

[Jcx500]

I’m going to risk it on the Friday , most Avanti services go to wolves so I should be fine if I plan it

[michael2k6]

I was going on the Thursday with a colleague on the train. On Wednesday I think from memory trains will finish quite early as they have to be at their final destinations by a certain time. My wife who's a marketing manager for one of the train operating companies has said to me I need to be on a train leaving London by 3 on the Wednesday if i want to get home and it'll probably be busy if it's the last. So that rules Wednesday out for me too. Trains Friday morning will be disrupted because they won't be in their usual places the night before, so it's an option but might be disrupted.

The reason that the operators won't update their site yet is because they haven't been formally told by RMT that it's going ahead. They have to give 2 weeks notice so that might not happen for a while.

So for me it's a case of driving down, but if lots of people are doing the same for this reason parking won't be available.... getting to the point where it's just not worth it. There have to be ways around it i'm sure but it's just turned into a massive job.

[vikpaw]

It doesn't look to be hugely drastic unless you're planning to travel on the 30th. Wednesday and Friday are unaffected.

 

You might have to pitch some tents on your stand for stranded geeks.

[TechMonkey]

I was going on the Thursday with a colleague on the train. On Wednesday I think from memory trains will finish quite early as they have to be at their final destinations by a certain time. My wife who's a marketing manager for one of the train operating companies has said to me I need to be on a train leaving London by 3 on the Wednesday if i want to get home and it'll probably be busy if it's the last. So that rules Wednesday out for me too. Trains Friday morning will be disrupted because they won't be in their usual places the night before, so it's an option but might be disrupted.

The reason that the operators won't update their site yet is because they haven't been formally told by RMT that it's going ahead. They have to give 2 weeks notice so that might not happen for a while.

So for me it's a case of driving down, but if lots of people are doing the same for this reason parking won't be available.... getting to the point where it's just not worth it. There have to be ways around it i'm sure but it's just turned into a massive job.

 

Exactly the same thoughts. And it is the one year I really need to come to get hands on with screens and some suppliers!

[Zoom7000]

Not sure that this will help everyone, but if you're coming from the North West (and/or can get to a nearby airport) return flights to Heathrow (from Manchester) are currently around £116 (cheaper if you're only carrying hand luggage).

 

I know it's not the ideal solution, but figured it might be an option for some.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

We're looking at a one way hire car for the trip home.

Picking up from city airport and dropping off in preston is only aroun £115.

 

Definitely a good option.