LONDON: Passengers across England are bracing for another day of travel disruption as a strike by train drivers brings almost all national rail services to a standstill.
The Aslef union has initiated a 24-hour walkout as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, strategically coinciding with the commencement of the Conservative party conference in Manchester.
Train operators across all 16 companies contracted to the Department for Transport are grappling with this industrial action, marking the 13th instance of disruption since the dispute ignited in June 2022. The ramifications of this latest strike mean that a majority of English routes will witness a complete cessation of train services, with cross-border operations to Wales and Scotland also significantly affected.
This strike represents the first of two planned actions this week, with another 24-hour stoppage scheduled for Wednesday – the final day of the Tory conference. Additionally, an overtime ban, persisting until Friday, will further impact parts of the network, compelling several operators to curtail timetables and heightening the potential for extended disruptions.
Aslef has clarified that the timing of these strikes during the Conservative party’s conference is a response to what they perceive as unjust accusations by ministers. The union is countering assertions that previous strikes were orchestrated to disrupt major events, such as the Eurovision final in Liverpool in May.
Mick Whelan, the General Secretary of Aslef, remarked, “We’re targeting the people who keep misleading the public by saying we’re targeting other events.” He underlined that there have been no substantive talks with the government or rail companies since April. The union had earlier rejected an offer of an 8% wage increase over two years, deeming it inadequate.
Representing the operators, the Rail Delivery Group expressed their willingness to engage in further negotiations with drivers, but underscored the necessity for an agreement on modifying working conditions.
In anticipation of travel disruptions, train operators have strongly advised passengers to avoid traveling on Saturday and anticipate continued disruption throughout the week, urging them to plan their journeys accordingly. Only a handful of companies, including Great Western, Greater Anglia, Southern, and LNER, are expected to operate a severely limited service on Saturday. Following the strike, Sunday morning is likely to witness residual disruption, as acknowledged by operators.
In an effort to mitigate the impact of the Aslef overtime ban, several operators, including Chiltern and C2C, have adjusted their timetables for the week. Adding to the complexity of the situation, passengers in the capital will also grapple with strikes this week in a separate dispute. RMT members on the London Underground are set to strike on both Wednesday and Friday, resulting in the closure of the tube and disruptions to Elizabeth line and Overground services.
