ASLEF’s decision to extend strikes means commuters are bracing for more chaos.
Here is everything you need to know about upcoming strikes.
There have been no train strikes announced as of May 15, 2024.
However, with Aslef voting to continue striking for the next six months and expected to announce a new set of strikes imminently, the prospect of ongoing disruption looms.
Unions need to give two weeks’ notice of any planned strike action.
The last set of train strikes took place on May 7-9.
There are no Tube strikes planned for anytime soon.
However, there was recently a planned strike by Unite members on the trams that serve stations between Wimbledon and Croydon.
This took place between 8pm on Thursday, July 11, and 6am on Monday, July 15.
Eurostar has said that strikes will not affect its timetable.
But it’s important always to double-check your journey if you are getting a connection within the UK.
Be sure to check if your transport is still running before you leave for the journey and always allow extra time on days where there are strikes.
If there is a strike on the day you plan to travel, rail passengers with advance tickets can get refunds.
This is only if the train they booked is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled due to strikes.
Train drivers have voted, again and again, to take action to get a pay rise”
Mick Whelan
If passengers have a return ticket they may also be entitled to a fee-free refund if part of the journey is cancelled.
Season ticket holders who cannot travel can claim 100% compensation for strike dates.
Aslef, the train drivers’ union, is asking for better pay for its members.
The union say drivers have not had a pay rise for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.
Its members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue industrial action.
General secretary Mick Whelan described the year-old offer of a 4% pay rise followed by another 4% increase as “risible” and “dead in the water”.
He said: “We first balloted for industrial action in June 2022, after three years without a pay rise. It took eight one-day strikes to persuade the train operating companies (Tocs) to come to the table and talk.
“Our negotiating team met the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on eight occasions – the last being on Wednesday 26 April last year.
“That was followed by the Tocs’ ‘land grab’ for all our terms & conditions on Thursday 27 April – which was immediately rejected.
“Since then, train drivers have voted, again and again, to take action to get a pay rise.
“That’s why Mark Harper, the transport secretary, is being disingenuous when he says that offer should have been put to members. Drivers would not vote to strike if they thought an offer was acceptable.”
He said the dispute had now cost more than £2billion, a fraction of which could have resolved the dispute.
Mr Whelan also said Aslef members remained solidly behind the campaign, and in many cases wanted to go “harder and faster” because of the lack of progression.
When ASLEF workers go on a nationwide strike, these are the lines that could be impacted:
