UK train passengers face fresh wave of disruption as drivers strike

Rail passengers across England face a fresh wave of disruption this week when the main drivers’ union launches three days of strikes in a long-running row over pay.

Members of the Aslef union will stage one-day walkouts between Tuesday and Thursday, with drivers at different train operating companies walking out on different days. A separate ban on overtime will cause some disruption from Monday.

Operators have warned passengers to check before they travel, with significant disruption across many services and some lines closed. The strikes affect train companies in England and will hit services that run into Scotland and Wales.

Drivers will walk out on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, depending on which operator they work for:

• c2c, Greater Anglia, Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express and South Western on Tuesday

• Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains on Wednesday

• LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine on Thursday

• A ban on working overtime will disrupt some services from Monday to Saturday

No operator has tried to use anti-strike legislation to enforce minimum levels of service during stoppages, which would require a certain number of staff to work to ensure some service continues, amid fears such a move would further inflame the dispute.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan told the Financial Times that the 22-month-long dispute had become the longest in the history of the railways.

The union is demanding pay rises to help its members cope with the impact of recent high inflation. In April 2023, its leadership rejected an offer of an 8 per cent rise over two years, tied to significant reforms of working practices.

Train companies negotiate with the union but the industry’s finances are controlled by the Department for Transport.

There were signs of a potential breakthrough last week after the Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators, wrote to Aslef to propose informal discussions.

The two sides have not held formal talks since the pay offer was rejected by the union in April 2023.

“We will be responding to see where it takes us,” Whelan said. “Hopefully it will get round the table at some point. We are willing to go to the table [and] still want to have that engagement.”

RDG said: “[The strikes] will inflict further damage on an industry that is receiving up to an additional £54mn a week in taxpayer cash to keep services running, following the Covid downturn.”