Ministers and unions have been urged to act end “relentless” rail strikes which have affected services since last June.
The call came from the head of the Business Travel Association as rail workers were called out by the RMT union on the day of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool on May 13.
The train drivers’ union Aslef also called strikes for May 12 and 31, and on June 3, the day of the FA Cup Final at Wembley as part of a long-running dispute over pay.
Aslef represents more than 96% of train drivers and warned that it is “very unlikely” services will run on the strike dates.
Meanwhile, the RMT announced strike action across 14 train operators on May 13 after rejected the latest pay offer from the Rail Delivery Group.
Business Travel Association chief executive Clive Wratten said: “Sadly, we are no longer surprised by the disappointing news of yet more crippling strike action across the rail network.
“While the world’s eyes are fixed on the UK as we host the FA Cup Final and Eurovision – for the first time in 25 years on behalf of Ukraine – it is disgraceful that the government and unions can’t co-ordinate to end the relentless industrial action that has forced the country to stop in its tracks.
“As uncertainty over Britain’s transport reliability understandably grows, these strikes are a setback to [Rishi] Sunak’s push for the collaboration of British businesses.
“The unions need to stop pointing fingers and come to a reasonable solution with the government, to support their rail staff whilst accommodating inflation rates.”