Members from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are in the process of a mass walkout due to a pay and pension dispute this week, causing major disruptions to rail networks.
Amid what is described as the biggest rail strike action since 1989, around 50,000 Network Rail workers are walking out.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said before the action: "Railway workers have been treated appallingly and despite our best efforts in negotiations, the rail industry with the support of the government has failed to take their concerns seriously."
Workers are walking out amid a pay dispute during a cost of living crisis. The Bank of England predicts inflation will hit 11% this year.
He also said “people can’t take it anymore”, while transport Secretary Grant Shapps called the strikes a "stunt".
There was also a 24-hour strike on the London Underground on June 21, as well as action in a separate dispute by the Aslef union.
Attempts to resolve the dispute are reportedly ongoing, but are unlikely to be fruitful and Lynch warned strikes could spread to other work sectors.
When are the rail strikes?
The RMT strikes are scheduled for June 21, 23 and 25, while the 24-hour London Underground walkout was on June 21.
Aslef workers will walk out on June 23 and July 2 on Greater Anglia trains, while Croydon Tramslink will see strikes on July 13 and 14.
RMT said the following reasons were behind the strikes:
- 'Savaging' the Railway Pension Scheme and the TFL scheme, cutting benefits, making staff work longer, and poorer in retirement, while paying increased contributions.
- Thousands of job cuts across the rail networks.
- Attacking terms, conditions and working practices in a form of internal fire and re-hire.
- Cutting real pay for most of our members through lengthy pay freezes and below RPI inflation pay proposals.
Roughly 20,000 train services will be cut to just 4,500 as workers from maintenance staff, drivers and signallers are all set to walk.
Shapps said: "They are gunning for this strike action I am afraid and it's going to inconvenience millions of Britons."
Glastonbury festival-goers will be especially affected as just 24 trains will run on the Paddington-Castle Cary line between Wednesday and Friday, down from 51 scheduled departures.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Shapps and Prime Minister Boris Johnson want the strikes to go ahead so they can "feed off the division".
When is the next rail strike?
As of Wednesday June 22, the next rail strike is scheduled for tomorrow, June 23, followed by another day of action on Saturday June 25.
When does the rail strike end?
The final date in this batch of strikes is set for Saturday June 25, although it will be followed by action from other, smaller unions.
Train drivers from the Aslef union will down tools on June 23 and July 2 on Greater Anglia trains, while Croydon Tramslink workers will strike on July 13 and 14.
Which rail lines are affected?
The likes of Avanti West Coast, LNER, c2c and East Midlands Railway are just some of the trains affected by the June strikes by RMT workers.
The list of lines affected is as follows:
- Avanti West Coast
- C2C
- Chiltern Railways
- Cross Country Trains
- Croydon Tramlink
- Greater Anglia
- LNER
- East Midlands Railway
- Elizabeth Line
- Great Western Railway
- Hull Trains
- London Underground (only on 21 June)
- Northern Trains
- South Eastern Railway
- South Western Railway
- TransPennine Express
- West Midlands Trains
The strike action means practically everyone in the country close to a rail line can expect the possibility of limited service.
You can see a full list of the stations expected to be affected put together by the Mirror here.
LNER, for example, operates as far south as London and its trains pass through the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the very north of Scotland in Inverness.
Alternative routes including coach journeys, cars and taxis should be looked at, and people are being advised to start making arrangements now. Public transport regulars may have to switch to bus services, so should look at their routes beforehand and watch out for any warnings.
A spokesman for Stagecoach London said: "Commuters should plan ahead and use the TfL website [in London]. In different places where buses are running adjacent to rail routes, they can expect busy services."
For work commutes, you may want to consider carpooling to keep congestion on the roads down and you can share the fuel expenses. It is expected to be a busy period for trains, particularly with the Glastonbury festival scheduled to coincide with the strike action.
For longer journeys, commuters may want to weigh up the cost of a flight, despite the environmental impact.
Are you planning to strike or has your travel been affected by the planned action? Let us know at webnews@mirror.co.uk
