Train strikes - live: Drivers at nine rail companies announce new walkout in August
Large-scale walk outs cause cancellations and delays on Wednesday and Saturday
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Train drivers at nine rail companies have announced a new strike in August as a dispute causing travel chaos across the country deepens.
Aslef announced its members will walk out on Saturday, 13 August, saying the firms failed to make a pay offer to help members keep pace with increases in the cost of living.
The announcement was made as strikes by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union and Transport Salaried Staffs Association crippled services on Wednesday, with only around one in five trains running and some areas having none at all.
All passengers have been warned to complete any essential journeys by rail before 6.30pm, after which very few trains will be in operation.
Disputes in the bitter row over jobs, pay, pensions and conditions are worsening, with more strikes in the coming days, and a wave of industrial action planned next month on the UK’s railways and London Underground.
Only around one in five trains have been running today, on around half of the network, with some areas having no trains all day.
Disruption is expected to carry on into Thursday morning.
Will London’s TfL and Tube services be affected by this week’s train strikes?
Two major transport strikes are set to cause widespread disruption across the UK this week.
The first, on Wednesday 27 July, will see 40,000 members of the RMT union walk out for 24 hours. This is expected to cause major cancellations and delays not just on Wednesday but into Thursday as the network struggles to recover from the staff shortages.
The second strike is on Saturday 30 July, when train drivers across eight rail companies who are members of the Aslef union walk out for 24 hours.
Passengers are being urged not to travel by train on these days unless absolutely necessary.
Both strikes have some impact on London’s transport network, operated by TfL. So which lines are likely to be affected? Here’s everything you need to know.
Will London’s TfL and Tube services be affected by this week’s train strikes?
The London Overground is set to be wiped out all day by Saturday’s strike
Another union announces rail strikes as travel chaos looms
Another rail union has announced that its members will strike next month in response to the ongoing dispute over pay, job security and conditions.
Thousands of staff at seven rail operators – spanning those in operational, maintenance, supervisory and management roles – will walk out on 18 and 20 August, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) said on Monday.
It is the first rail-industry wide industrial action taken by TSSA in more than a generation, demonstrating the strength of feeling over pay and job security as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, the union said.
Read the full story:
Another union announces rail strikes as travel chaos looms
Thousands of staff at seven rail operating firms to walk out on 18 and 20 August, TSSA says
Tui staff warn holidaymakers to plan ahead during train strike
Tui has issued a warning to customers setting off this week to prepare for train strikes that could scupper their journey to the airport.
The tour operator put out a statement to passengers reminding them of two days of industrial action on Britain’s railways, which will cause widespread delays and cancellations, and urged them to leave extra time for trips to catch flights.
Tui’s statement says: “We’d like to remind customers of a planned national train strike on Wednesday 27 July which is likely to affect services into airports across the country throughout the day and into Thursday 28.
“If you are heading on holiday on either of these days please plan ahead and make alternative plans to get to your departure airport if necessary. We’d also recommend allowing extra time for your journey.”
Tui warns travellers to ‘plan ahead’ as train strikes threaten to disrupt holidays
‘Make alternative plans,’ warns tour operator
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