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West Midlands Railway strike suspended after TSSA talks
Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) were set to strike on West Midlands Railway services on Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August 2026 over a dispute about rest‑day working payments. After breakthrough negotiations with the union, the two‑day walkout was suspended and the railway will operate a full normal timetable on those days. Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway, said the company was pleased the strike was called off, noting that earlier strikes had taken place on 11‑12 July and 22‑23 May.
A broader rail‑industry briefing also reported that FirstGroup will sell its technology innovation arm for £48 million, that transport‑technology provider Tracsis will acquire FirstGroup’s subsidiary Mistral Data on a cash‑free, debt‑free basis, and that Eurostar will launch a direct London‑Antwerp service from 14 December, offering up to four trains a day.
Entities
Department for Transport · FirstGroup · Jonny Wiseman · Transport Salaried Staffs Association · West Midlands Railway
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The strike was over a dispute about rest‑day working payments for TSSA members. www.birminghammail.co.uk · ca.news.yahoo.com · news.railbusinessdaily.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway, said the company was pleased the strike was suspended. www.birminghammail.co.uk · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Two days of strike action on West Midlands Railway scheduled for Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August 2026 were suspended after talks. www.birminghammail.co.uk · ca.news.yahoo.com · news.railbusinessdaily.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] TSSA members had previously walked out on 11‑12 July and 22‑23 May 2026. ca.news.yahoo.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] FirstGroup agreed to sell its technology innovation arm to a Leeds‑based firm for an enterprise value of £48 million. news.railbusinessdaily.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Eurostar will launch a direct service between London and Antwerp from 14 December 2026, with up to four trains a day. news.railbusinessdaily.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] West Midlands Railway will run a full normal timetable on the days the strike was suspended. www.birminghammail.co.uk · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Transport‑technology provider Tracsis agreed to acquire Mistral Data, a FirstGroup subsidiary, on a cash‑free, debt‑free basis. news.railbusinessdaily.com