After vacationers and train commuters were slammed with a fresh dose of travel hell ahead of the worst strikes in a generation, Britain’s summer of discontent appeared to begin earlier than expected.
Millions of Britons’ vacation plans are still in jeopardy as tourists prepare for a week of disruption caused by the militant RMT’s industrial action, which is predicted to cripple the country.
However, many passengers flying out of Heathrow were enraged on Friday when their bags were reportedly left behind after they left the country due to a technical ‘glitch’ that resulted in a massive luggage pile-up.
Hundreds of luggage and personal belongings were seen piling up at Terminal 2 of the UK’s main airport, as holidaymakers faced yet another round of travel woes after weeks of disruption.
Passengers were apparently advised that their bags might not arrive for two days. Customers were apologised to, and Heathrow said that the sea of bags had accumulated as a result of personnel dealing with a ‘ongoing issue with the baggage system.’
Train passengers were also stranded in the scorching heat after lines out of Euston Station were closed on Friday due to a reported fire on the line.
Passengers travelling into London stated they were stuck on trains to Euston with “no water or air conditioning.” At one point, Euston was forced to close, with police officers manning the station’s doors and gates to prevent people from entering.
‘We have two problems in this region that are causing issues,’ Euston Station tweeted just after 8 p.m. While our engineers work on correcting the signaling problem, a test train is examining the overhead lines. This follows the extinguishment of a fire near the rail line.’
All travel on the Milton Keynes Central to Euston route has been halted due to damage to overhead electric lines, according to operator Avanti West Coast. Although three of the four main lines have subsequently reopened, delays have persisted far into the evening.
The mayhem comes just days before the country is set to be slammed by the country’s largest rail strikes in three decades, and just weeks after Britain’s battered airports made headlines with last-minute flight cancellations and long waits.
Half of Britain’s train services will be shut down on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday next week during the walkouts, with those that do operate a reduced service only running between 7.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.
In response to a national push to save more than £2 billion across Britain’s railway network, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union has demanded 11% pay raises for staff and a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
Millions of Britons’ vacation plans are still in jeopardy as tourists prepare for a week of upheaval, with travel on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday anticipated to be severely disrupted as a result of the RMT union’s strike by 40,000 members.
It comes as passengers passing through Britain’s airports have experienced last-minute flight cancellations, baggage stuck hundreds of miles abroad, and snaking lines as the new normal.
Some visitors have even been forced to sleep on the floor of terminals due to long delays, according to shocking images from around the country.
As people rushed back to work and school after half-term, they crossed borders rather than waiting for later flights.
Many people claimed they had to pay hundreds of pounds for new flights or other kinds of transportation, such as Eurostar trains.
Teachers who needed to return to the classroom and A-level students who were at risk of missing exams and maybe losing their university spots were among them.
‘Earlier today, there was a technical issue with the Terminal 2 luggage system, which has now been fixed,’ a Heathrow official stated after photographs of the Terminal 2 disaster surfaced online.
‘Travellers can now check in as usual, but some passengers who flew out of Terminal 2 earlier today may have arrived without their bags.’
‘We’re working together with airlines to ensure that travelers and their belongings are reunited as soon as possible.’
‘We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused passengers.’
After letting thousands of people go during the coronavirus outbreak, the aviation industry is suffering from a staffing deficit.
As last-minute crunch talks with Network Rail continued, Gatwick Express suspended all trains for three days next week and Eurostar canceled dozens of routes.