Passengers across the UK are bracing for more travel disruptions this week as train drivers union Aslef and Tube workers union RMT initiate another round of strikes.
This series of strikes, organized by Aslef, is anticipated to bring a halt to the majority of the country’s rail services. Recent figures have revealed that over 40% of train services in Britain experienced delays or cancellations in the first half of the year, with labor strikes being a significant contributing factor.
Here are the key details:
- Aslef members at 16 different rail companies are set to strike on Wednesday, October 4, following a prior walkout on Saturday.
- The union is also enforcing a ban on overtime work from Monday, October 2, to Friday, October 6.
Aslef has stated that this action is intended to “compel the train operating companies to cancel all services and the ban on overtime will severely disrupt the network.”
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing train companies, has assured that operators will run as many trains as possible. However, there will be considerable regional discrepancies, with some areas experiencing no services at all.
On October 4, drivers will be on strike at 13 companies including Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, and more.
National Rail is cautioning passengers to anticipate “significant disruption” on strike days. Services are also likely to face delays and later starts on the day immediately following the strikes.
To navigate these challenges, National Rail recommends:
- Using their Journey Planner, and checking close to the time of each strike date.
- Consulting their Live Trains page for the most current information on arrivals and departures.
- Planning ahead and checking before you travel, especially if you intend to use the first and last trains on strike days.
