Disruption on way as train drivers strike
RAIL services on some of the busiest commuter routes in the country will be at a standstill today because of a fresh strike by drivers in a near two-year long pay dispute.
Members of Aslef at operators including those running services into London such as Southern, Southeastern and South Western Railway will walk out for the day.
Strikes will be held tomorrow and Thursday at different operators, while drivers are also banning overtime until Saturday which is also causing disruption. Passengers are being urged to check before attempting to travel by train this week.
There is a glimmer of hope that negotiations will start in a bid to resolve the row after the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) invited Aslef to talks about exploring any common ground which could break the deadlock.
No formal talks between the operators and the union have been held for a year and for longer involving a transport minister.
Business groups have warned of the impact on the economy of the strikes, especially for hospitality firms. Muniya Barua, deputy chief executive at BusinessLDN, said: “Yet another round of industrial action across the rail network will cause disruption for businesses and commuters up and down the country. “Amid weak economic growth, and as we head into a summer trading period which is crucial for retail, leisure and hospitality firms, we urge all parties to work together to resolve these long-running talks and keep the city moving. The impact of these walkouts will be felt even more acutely by many owing to a shorter working week.” Train drivers will strike on the following days:
Tuesday, May 7: c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR’s Great Northern, Thameslink and Southern (including Gatwick Express), Southeastern, and South Western Railway.
Wednesday, May 8: Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway, Chiltern, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, GWR, and West Midlands Trains.
Thursday, May 9: LNER, Northern, and TransPennine Express.
Aslef said its members have not had a pay rise for five years and has accused the government of “giving up” trying to resolve the dispute.
A spokesman for the RDG said: “The rail industry is working hard to keep trains running. We can only apologise to our customers for this wholly unnecessary strike action which will sadly disrupt journeys once again.”
Aslef is the only union left striking after the UK Government oversaw deals with all the other unions.