More rail misery as train drivers strike again
RAIL passengers face further travel chaos today as the train drivers’ union launches another crippling strike.
Members of Aslef will walk out for the third time in the past four days, hitting services on c2c, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia, Southeastern, Southern, South Western Railway, Great Northern and Thameslink.
The union is embroiled in a near two-year long dispute over pay with no sign of a breakthrough and no talks planned. The action includes a six-day ban on overtime.
South Western Railway said a significantly reduced service will operate on a small number of lines, while the rest of its network will be closed.
Closed
No trains will run across the vast majority of Southern’s network with a limited shuttle service running non-stop between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.
There will be no Thameslink services, except for a limited shuttle service calling at Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and London St Pancras and another limited non-stop shuttle service between London King’s Cross and Cambridge.
There will be no Great Northern or Gatwick Express services. However, Gatwick Airport will be served by the limited non-stop Southern shuttle. Southeastern said most of its routes and stations will be closed.
Rob Mullen, managing director of c2c, said no trains will run. He added: “I’m really disappointed that an agreement with Aslef hasn’t been reached. The impact of this ongoing action is significant for our customers and colleagues.”
Greater Anglia’s first trains of the day will start later and last trains finish earlier than normal, excluding the Stansted Express.
Mick Whelan, Aslef leader, said the failure to reach a deal would lead to further action over the continuing row over pay for drivers who currently earn an average of £60,000 a year.
Last year, Aslef rejected an offer from operators through the Rail Delivery Group, the body that represents all rail companies, that would have led to drivers’ salaries increasing to £65,000 for a four-day week.
Talks have stalled, with Aslef’s last meeting with the RDG coming in April last year.
It said its last meeting with the rail minister Huw Merriman was in January 2023.
Mr Whelan said: “We don’t want to be here. We don’t want to be standing on picket lines, losing money. We want a better, safer, cleaner railway.”
A RDG spokesperson said: “Nobody wins when industrial action impacts people’s lives and livelihoods and we will work hard to minimise any disruption to our passengers.”
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “Aslef is the only rail union continuing to strike, targeting passengers and preventing their own members from voting on the pay offer.”