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Leeds Live
Leeds Live
National
Sebastian McCormick & Lucy Marshall

Passengers stranded on 'deserted' platforms as Leeds train station to close for strikes

Leeds Train Station has been almost completely deserted today as rail strikes have meant most trains are cancelled across the country.

Many people have been left unable to get to work, appointments or holidays due to action which means that almost all services are cancelled.

Kendy F said: “I was meant to be going to Glasgow today, I’ve just come in from Paris to here and I need to be in Glasgow for work.”

Read More: Live Leeds train strike updates as stations deserted with warning not to travel

She went on to say: “That’s been cancelled because of the strike so I have been affected in that sense and I have had to reschedule it but I don’t feel inconvenienced because I think people don’t just go on strike willy-nilly.

“I don’t really know exactly what the issues are or why they feel they haven’t been heard and need to do this, I don’t know that but I feel that if they did they have strong reasons.”

Leeds Train Station ticket offices are closed (Lucy Marshall)

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) have decided to go on strike on June 21, 23 and 25 with disruption also expected on the days between strikes due to trains being out of position. Talks broke down yesterday meaning the strikes will be going ahead throughout the week.

One man, Tim, was going to visit friends in Ilkley who he had known for 15 years and had planned the meet-up two months in advance before the strikes were announced. He said: “I’ve had the plan for two months, I'm not changing it.”

Leeds station is almost deserted this morning (Lucy Marshall)

Fatin, who was dropping off a friend at Leeds train station said the strikes would affect people who were making journeys across the country and said: “No to the strikes”.

The strikes have also coincided with the Arriva buses strike across West Yorkshire which have been going on since the start of the month. Talks failed last week between Arriva and Unite with the strikes set to continue.

Leeds Train Station will close just after 5.35pm tonight as the last train leaves for the day due to the strike action.

The Wetherspoons pub inside the station was also seen very quiet when our reporter went along to the train station this morning.

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