Rail industry prays for a Christmas miracle to avert strikes

Time is running out for a deal to send threat of disruption into the sidings and keep holiday travel plans on track

Christmas is, of course, a time to believe in miracles - but when the government is reduced to publicly imploring the RMT union to bring out its altruistic side, it seems more likely that the railway is teetering on the edge of a not very festive abyss.

The new rail minister, Huw Merriman, got all sides together on Friday, in a statement of intent. But time is running out to avoid what will probably be the most damaging strike action yet: two 48-hour walkouts across Network Rail and train operators between 13-17 December, and an overtime ban that will bring more disruption to services throughout the Christmas period - right up to another planned week of strikes in early January.