Stay at home rail warning and more flights grounded

Elsewhere, the county of Sussex has received special status for its wine estates, putting it on par with Champagne, which has upset some grape growers over the border in Kent, and easyJet has axed yet more flights from its Sussex base at Gatwick today.

Here are the travel headlines for Thursday (16 June).

Stay at home all week, rail firms tell UK
The UK’s largest rail operators have warned passengers not to travel by train at all next week as the network looks set for its biggest industrial action in 30 years. A skeleton service will run from Tuesday to Sunday, with some routes cancelled. (The i)

EasyJet grounds more Gatwick flights
EasyJet’s flight cancellations continue this Thursday, though most passengers were given at least a day’s notice. The budget carrier has grounded 40 flights to and from Gatwick airport today including its scheduled round trips to popular holiday destinations Malta and Pathos in Cyprus. Its flight to Hurghada was cancelled and flew out empty to pick up returning holidaymakers after easyJet axed all holidays to the Red Sea resort until late July. (The Independent)

Sour grapes over special status for Sussex wine
Wine produced in the county of Sussex was awarded special status yesterday, putting it on a par with regions such as Champagne in France. But wine producers in the neighbouring county of Kent have dismissed the Protected Designation of Origin as a ‘joke’. (The Daily Telegraph)

Tube strike: passengers warned not to travel
Londoners have been urged not to travel on the tube next Tuesday and Wednesday amid widespread industrial action on the network. Transport for London said that strike action would cause severe disruption to all underground lines. It comes as some 10,000 tube workers prepare for a second day of strike action this month after shutting down the network on June 6. (Evening Standard)

Strikes to cost rail industry £150 million
Network Rail bosses have set out plans to cancel thousands of trains during strike action next week, as they warn that the dispute will exacerbate problems facing the cash-strapped industry. The walkout is predicted to cost the industry £150 million. (Financial Times)