Londoners are experiencing major travel disruption today as train workers are striking once again.
Members of Aslef began a day of industrial action this morning (Friday, September 1), forcing train companies across England to cancel all services.
Tomorrow will see further travel disruption as Aslef will action an overtime ban and RMT will go on strike on Saturday, September 2.
Here is a comprehensive look at why the strikes are happening and how Londoners will be impacted this weekend.
📣 Please check your journey before you travel today and tomorrow.
— Network Rail (@networkrail) September 1, 2023
Industrial action means services in England and some cross-border journeys into Scotland and Wales will be disrupted:
➡️ https://t.co/5SkIdFnKip@nationalrailenq pic.twitter.com/rTFlz0K7h0
Why are the strikes being held?
Aslef said that train drivers have not had a pay rise since 2019 and that, with inflation soaring, it means they now earn less.
Talking about it, the Aslef General Secretary, Mick Whelan explained: “We don’t want to take this action but the train companies, and the Government which stands behind them, have forced us into this place because they refuse to sit down and talk to us, and have not made a fair and sensible pay offer to train drivers who have not had one for four years — since 2019 — while prices have soared in that time by more than 12 per cent.
“The Government appears happy to let passengers — and businesses — suffer in the mistaken belief that they can bully us into submission.
“They don’t care about passengers, or Britain’s railway, but they will not break us.”
Solidarity with all our members taking strike action today.
— ASLEF (@ASLEFunion) September 1, 2023
A message from @MickWhelanASLEF and @SimonWeller pic.twitter.com/vNiaQSiUSP
How will Londoners be impacted by the train strikes today and tomorrow?
Train journeys will be impacted from Friday, September 1 as members of Aslef and RMT will be taking industrial action respectively, causing major travel disruption.
The companies affected are Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; c2c; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Greater Anglia; GTR Great Northern Thameslink; Great Western Railway; Island Line; LNER; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; South Western Railway; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains.
Those who are planning to travel via train are advised to check the status of their journey via the National Rail website, as it is very likely to be cancelled.
