Weekend of misery as train drivers call strike
Holidaymakers warned to expect gridlock on roads
HOLIDAYMAKERS face a weekend of travel misery as rail strikes threaten gridlocks on the roads.
Train drivers for seven operators will walk out for 24 hours today in a bitter dispute over pay with the Aslef union.
Barely any services will run on the EdinburghLondon East Coast Main Line. Intercity connections from London across the South-West, Midlands and East of England will also be hit.
Remaining rail services and public transport such as buses risk overcrowding and delays. Millions more travellers are to take to the roads instead, including fans trying to reach the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the opening day of the English Football League and the Euro 2022 women’s final at London’s Wembley Stadium tomorrow.
It is also the second-busiest weekend of the summer getaway, with drivers facing the worst delays between 11am and 3pm today. Those heading towards Devon and Cornwall were warned by the AA, which has issued its first-ever ‘amber’ traffic warning, to prepare for bumper-to-bumper traffic on the M5, A303 and A30.
The southwestern and western sections of the M25 near Heathrow Airport, the Bristol M4/M5 junction, M6, M42, M1 and M62 are also at risk of coming to a standstill. The M20, which leads to cross-Channel rail and ferry services in Folkestone and Dover, will also be busy.
Despite anti-Brexit commentaTrains, tors warning a repeat of last week’s chaos at the Port of Dover was likely, it did not materialise yesterday. French border guards manned most passport booths, cutting waits down to 30-45 minutes long. Last weekend saw 20hour tailbacks.
The seven rail operators affected by strikes are Arriva Rail London (London Overground), Greater Anglia, Great Western, Hull LNER, Southeastern, and West Midlands Trains. Aslef drivers for nine operators will strike again over pay on August 13, and the RMT union will strike on August 18 and 20.
The Cabinet Office last night unveiled measures to minimise disruption to sports fans. It has worked to ensure more trains run on lines where drivers are working, and coaches will be laid on.