Train Drivers Announce New Series of Strikes
Full walkout and overtime ban will affect local networks
There have already been 14 days of strikes in the 18 month dispute
January 19, 2024
The train drivers’ union ASLEF has announced another round of strike action on the national rail network that will affect local services.
The series of strikes runs from Tuesday 30 January and Monday 5 February with different train operating companies impacted each day. On the first day (Tuesday 30 January), South Western Railway and GTR Southern/Gatwick Express will be affected with Great Western services out of action on Monday 5 February.
In addition, from Monday 29 January until Tuesday 6 February there will be an overtime band which is also likely to affect services.
The union has already held 14 strikes in the 18-month long dispute over pay. In December, the union adopted a new tactic of 'rolling strikes' in which different companies are hit on separate days. It is understood that his is an attempt to maximise impact while reducing the amount of lost pay for striking drivers.
Walkouts will take place on the following dates.
Tuesday 30 January: Southeastern, GTR Southern/Gatwick Express, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, SWR Island Line, South Western Railway Depot Drivers, South Western Railway mainline drivers
Wednesday 31 January: Northern Trains, Transpennine Trains
Friday 2 February: Greater Anglia, C2C, LNER
Saturday 3 February: West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway
Monday 5 February: Great Western Railway, CrossCountry, Chiltern
ASLEF’s general secretary Mick Whelan said, "We have given the government every opportunity to come to the table but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It's clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.
"Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living. Train drivers didn't even ask for an increase during the Covid-19 pandemic when they worked throughout as keyworkers, risking their lives to allow NHS and other workers to travel.
"The government has now tried their old trick of changing the rules when they can't win and brought in Minimum Service Levels legislation. But this new law, as we told officials during the consultation period, won't ease industrial strife. It will likely just make it worse.
"There's no excuse. The government and train operating companies must come to the table with a realistic offer so we can end this dispute and work together to ensure the future of our railways."
A spokesperson for Rail Delivery Group said, “Nobody wins when strikes impact lives and livelihoods, and they're particularly difficult to justify at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54m a week to keep services running post covid.
“Despite the railway's huge financial challenge, drivers have been made an offer which would take base salaries to nearly £65,000 for a four day week without overtime - that is well above the national average and significantly more than many of our passengers that have no option to work from home are paid. Instead of staging more damaging industrial action, we call on the ASLEF leadership to work with us to resolve this dispute and deliver a fair deal which both rewards our people, and makes the changes needed to make services more reliable.”
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