Commuters face chaos as thousands of train drivers walkout today
Fresh rail strikes spark half term chaos as thousands of train drivers walkout today – and hospitality bosses warn it could cost the sector £132million in lost sales this week alone
- Over 12,000 Aslef drivers are walking out today, impacting 15 rail companies
- Around 40% of trains will be running, but there will be wide regional variations
Rail strikes are causing chaos today as thousands of train drivers walkout across the country – with hospitality bosses warning it will cost the sector £132million in lost sales as travel to major sporting and music events is disrupted.
Members of the drivers’ union Aslef are walking out today, with further industrial action planned for Saturday in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has also called a strike on Friday.
Train companies are warning that services are ‘severely reduced’ because of industrial action by drivers and other workers, with passengers advised to plan ahead and check the times of first and last trains.
But Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan today insisted it is a ‘coincidence’ that strike days have coincided with the Eurovision final earlier this month and Saturday’s FA Cup Final and Epsom Derby. Thousands attending Beyonce’s Renaissance world tour concert at Tottenham’s stadium and cricket fans travelling to watch the England v Ireland Test match at Lord’s will also be impacted.
Meanwhile, today’s strike action is set to cost the UK’s hospitality sector around £132m today, bringing the cumulative impact of walkouts to £3.25billion this year alone.
Commuters face railway chaos today as more than 12,000 train drivers walkout in a fresh wave of rail strikes
Aslef members are walking out today and and again on Saturday in long-running disputes over pay, jobs and conditions. Pictured: Commuters at Victoria Station in London, which is closed to the public this morning
Aslef chief Mick Whelan today insisted it is a ‘coincidence’ that strike days have coincided with the Eurovision final and major sporting events on Saturday
Today’s strikes will affect 15 train companies, with services due to start later and finish much earlier than usual – typically between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Commuters are pictured outside closed Victoria Station in London this morning
Mr Whelan refuted claims his union had deliberately chosen one of the UK’s biggest sporting events of the year for its walkouts.
He told BBC’s Today programme: ‘I don’t think there is a day in this country where there isn’t a pop concert or something going on unfortunately.
READ MORE: Train strikes 2023: Full list of dates in May and June as commuters brace for more disruption
‘Also at the same time, I would like to refer you back to exactly 12 months ago when they shout the railway from the north west when Liverpool were playing in the FA Cup final against Chelsea. It seems to be alright for the railway to shut down on FA Cup Final day, but if we dare take action on that day then we get accosted for it.’
Meanwhile, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the walkouts are dissuading customers from visiting pubs and restaurants across the country.
She said: ‘The May half term normally represents a bumper week for hospitality, with typically sunny weather encouraging families to head out on activities, visits and staycations.
‘Unfortunately, we’ve seen time and time again that rail strikes put a significant dampener on any sales as visitors are deterred from booking visits or eating and drinking out. This time around that means families staying at home and football fans travelling to the capital for the FA Cup final disrupted.
‘That disruption throughout the week will cost £132 million to the sector, bringing the total impact of the year-long strikes to an eye-watering £3.25 billion.
‘It’s critical for the public, workers and businesses that there is a resolution in this dispute as soon as possible. I would urge all involved to get back round the negotiating table for constructive discussions to reach an agreement.’
Paddington Station was ‘a ghost town’ this morning as train drivers who are members of the Aslef union walked out in the first of three strikes in four days. Arrivals boards in the station read ‘please wait” or ‘please enquire’.
The unions allege support for industrial action remains strong among workers – as well as the public – and warn there could be longer, harder strike action if the Government refuses to engage in pay talks.
Union leaders claim they have not been given a pay offer they can recommend to their members and that the Government is preventing the train companies making an acceptable offer, which ministers deny.
Today’s strikes will affect 15 train companies, with services due to start later and finish much earlier than usual – typically between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
Around 40 per cent of trains will be running today and Saturday but there will be wide regional variations, with some operators running no services at all.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said it is expected that nationally services will be severely reduced as strikes are underway, with variations across the network and no services at all in some areas. Pictured: Thameslink passenger trains laid up at a depot in north London today
Around 40 per cent of trains will be running today and Saturday but there will be wide regional variations, with some operators running no services at all. Pictured: Empty platforms at Paddington Station in London this morning
Aslef claims there is ‘no waning in enthusiasm’ from members to continue taking industrial action. Pictured: Passengers with luggage wait outside Victoria Station which is closed to the public this morning
Traffic queues on the A102M Blackwall Tunnel approach in Greenwich South East London during strike action by the ASLEF union this morning
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said it is expected that nationally services will be severely reduced as strikes are underway, with variations across the network and no services at all in some areas.
READ MORE: Rail strikes set to cost railways £1BILLION with union bosses accused of wrecking their own industry
It is likely that evening services on some lines will be affected on the days before each strike, so passengers are advised to check the last train times on the evenings before strike days and the mornings following strikes.
Aslef will also also start an overtime ban at 15 train operating companies tomorrow that could cause disruption, especially in and out of London.
When RMT workers strike on Friday around half of the network will shut down, with around 50 per cent of normal services running.
Joining a picket line at Newcastle Station, Mr Whelan added: ‘Unfortunately, we’ve been in talks on a regular basis with the companies, and they seem to want thousands of percent productivity for a 20 per cent pay cut.
‘And we want people to travel people use railways and people out of their cars and the green future. We don’t want to be doing this. Unfortunately, we are left with no choice.’
Aslef says train drivers have not had a pay rise for four years.
Asked how talks were going, Mr Whelan added: ‘There are no negotiations since they came out with yet another deal that contained all our ‘red lines’. They do not apparently want a resolution.’
However, a Department for Transport spokesperson hit back, claiming the strikes continue to ‘disrupt hundreds of thousands of people’ who are looking forward to weekend events, including festivals and football matches.
A quiet Waterloo Station in central London this morning, as members of the drivers’ union Aslef go on strike today
Strike signage in a quiet Waterloo Station today, with further industrial action set to cause more misery on Saturday
A quiet Newcastle station this morning as members of the drivers’ union Aslef go on strike
‘These strikes have been co-ordinated by union leaders to disrupt passengers in a week which will see major events such as the first ever all Manchester FA Cup final, the Epsom Derby and a number of concerts and festivals across the UK.
‘Not content with impacting the hundreds of thousands of people who have looked forward to these events all year round, unions are also targeting their own members’ pockets by forcing them to miss out on pay every time they strike.
‘The Government has facilitated a fair and reasonable pay offer, now union leaders must do the right thing and put this to their members.’
The industrial action will affect football fans travelling to London for the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.
Fans wishing to travel to the game by train from Manchester were advised not to attempt to do so on the day.
Industrial action on Saturday will also affect more than 100,000 people travelling to the annual Epsom Derby as well as fans travelling to Beyonce’s Renaissance world tour concert at Tottenham’s stadium and cricket fans travelling to watch the England v Ireland Test match at Lord’s.
Travellers will suffer fresh travel disruption in the next few days as train services will be ‘severely reduced’ because of the industrial action. Rail passengers are being advised to plan ahead and check the times of first and last trains. Pictured: Travellers stand underneath a departure board at Paddington Station in London this morning
Heavy traffic on the A40 at Perivale in West London this morning amid another day of strike action across rail networks
An RDG spokesperson said: ‘The upcoming rail strikes called by the Aslef and RMT leadership will not only affect our passengers’ daily commute, but will also impact those travelling to and from the FA Cup final and other events across the country, causing disappointment and frustration for tens of thousands of people.
‘It will also inconvenience families who have been looking forward and have planned their half-term holidays. It will also further burden our people who have already lost thousands of pounds at a time of financial strain.
‘We understand the impact of these strikes on individuals and businesses alike, and we can only apologise for this unnecessary and damaging disruption.
‘While we are doing all we can to keep trains running, unfortunately there will be reduced train services between Wednesday May 31 and Saturday June 3, so our advice is to check before you travel.
‘Passengers with Advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.’
HOW WILL THIS WEEK’S RAIL STRIKES AFFECT EACH TRAIN OPERATOR?
Train services are being hit by more strike action this week.
Train drivers who are members of Aslef will walk out on Wednesday and Saturday, while workers who are members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will strike on Friday.
Here is a breakdown of each operator’s plan for strike days:
Avanti West Coast
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: One train per hour will run in each direction between London Euston and each of Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Preston, with a limited service to and from Glasgow.
There will be no services to or from North Wales, Shrewsbury, Blackpool, Stoke-on-Trent or Edinburgh, while Macclesfield station will be closed.
The first train of the day from Euston will depart at around 8am, and the last will leave shortly after 5pm.
Saturday: No trains.
c2c
Wednesday: Usual timetable.
Friday: No major impact but 12-carriage trains will not stop at Limehouse, east London.
Saturday: Usual timetable.
Caledonian Sleeper
Wednesday: Usual timetable.
Friday: All services will be operating via the East Coast Main Line due to engineering works.
Saturday: The Caledonian Sleeper does not operate on Saturday nights.
Chiltern Railways
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: Services will be limited to one train per hour from around 8am until 10pm in both directions between London Marylebone and each of Banbury, Oxford and Aylesbury via High Wycombe; and between Amersham and Aylesbury Vale Parkway.
No trains will run between Banbury and each of Birmingham and Stourbridge Junction, or between Hatton and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Saturday: No trains.
CrossCountry
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: A limited service will operate. No trains will run between Birmingham New Street and Cardiff Central or Nottingham.
Saturday: No trains.
East Midlands Railway
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: Services will run between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
They will be limited to just one train per hour in each direction between London St Pancras and each of Nottingham, Sheffield and Corby, as well as a handful of regional routes such as between Leicester and Lincoln.
Saturday: No trains.
Elizabeth line
Wednesday: Usual timetable.
Friday: The Elizabeth line is not involved in the industrial dispute with the RMT but there will be some alterations to its services.
These include no trains between Maidenhead and Reading before 7am or after 7pm, and no trains between Brentwood and Shenfield from 11.30pm.
Saturday: Usual timetable.
Gatwick Express
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: No trains but Southern and Thameslink will serve Gatwick Airport until early afternoon.
Saturday: No trains.
Grand Central
Wednesday: Grand Central is not involved in the industrial dispute with Aslef but there will be minor alterations to its services due to engineering work.
Friday: Grand Central is not involved in the industrial dispute with the RMT but there will be minor alterations to its services.
Saturday: Usual timetable.
Great Northern
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: A limited service will run and only between 7am and 7pm. There will be no trains between Ely and King’s Lynn.
Saturday: No trains.
Great Western Railway
Wednesday and Saturday: A limited service will run and only between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
The only open routes will be between: London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads; Reading and Didcot; Reading and Basingstoke; Reading and Redhill; Westbury and Swindon; Cardiff and Bristol; Exeter and Barnstaple; Plymouth and Gunnislake; and Penzance and St Ives.
The Night Riviera sleeper service is cancelled.
Friday: More routes will be open compared with Wednesday, including additions such as between London Paddington and Cardiff; London Paddington and Plymouth; and Slough and Windsor.
Greater Anglia
Wednesday: A reduced service will run and only from 7am, with last trains earlier than normal.
The only routes open will be between London Liverpool Street and each of Cambridge, Colchester, Norwich and Southend Victoria.
Friday: Trains will run between 7am and 11pm.
Some routes will have a reduced frequency, but most will have a normal or near-normal service.
Saturday: A reduced service will run and only from 7am, with last trains earlier than normal.
Most routes will be closed, including between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge.
Heathrow Express
Wednesday: An hourly service between 7am and 7pm.
Friday: Usual timetable.
Saturday: No trains.
Hull Trains
All strike days: Usual timetable.
– London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
All strike days: A limited timetable will operate and only between London King’s Cross and both Edinburgh and Leeds.
London Northwestern Railway
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: A limited service will run and only between 7am and 7pm.
The only open routes will be between Birmingham New Street and each of London Euston, Birmingham International and Liverpool Lime Street.
Saturday: No trains.
London Overground
Wednesday and Friday: London Overground is not involved in the industrial disputes but there will be minor alterations to some services.
Saturday: Usual timetable
Lumo
All strike days: Usual timetable.
Merseyrail
All strike days: Usual timetable.
Northern
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: Only a handful of routes will be open, such as between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester; Leeds and York; and Darlington and Saltburn.
Saturday: No trains.
ScotRail
All strike days: Usual timetable.
South Western Railway
Wednesday: Services will be reduced and there will be no trains on the Isle of Wight.
Friday: A reduced service will operate and only between 7am and 7pm.
Saturday: Services will be reduced and there will be no trains on the Isle of Wight.
Southeastern
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: A reduced service will operate, with some routes closed.
Saturday: No trains.
Southern
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: A reduced service will operate and only between 7am and 7pm.
No trains will run between Hemel Hempstead and Clapham Junction; London Bridge and Norwood Junction; Southampton Central and Barnham; and Eastbourne and Ashford International.
Saturday: No trains.
Stansted Express
Wednesday and Saturday: Frequencies will be halved to one train per hour in each direction.
Friday: Services will not start until after 7am.
Thameslink
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: A reduced service will operate and only between 7am and 7pm.
Services will be split north and south, with nothing running between London St Pancras and London Blackfriars.
Saturday: No trains.
TransPennine Express
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: A reduced timetable will operate and only between Liverpool Lime Street and each of Preston and York; and between Sheffield and Cleethorpes.
Saturday: No trains.
Transport for Wales
All strike days: Transport for Wales is not involved in the industrial disputes but some of its services will be amended.
West Midlands Railway
Wednesday: No trains.
Friday: A limited service will run and only between 7am and 7pm.
The only open routes will be between Birmingham New Street and each of Wolverhampton, Rugeley Trent Valley, Lichfield Trent Valley, Redditch and Bromsgrove; between Kidderminster and Whitlocks End/Dorridge via Birmingham Snow Hill; and between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town.
Saturday: No trains.
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