New train strikes announced by drivers union Aslef amid pay dispute

Train drivers are set to stage a fresh series of strikes and a ban on overtime from the end of January.

The main train drivers union Aslef announced the strikes on Monday, having voted to continue the action for the next six months.

The stoppages, taking place between Tuesday 30 January and Monday 5 February, will affect different operators each day. The drivers will also refuse to work overtime from Monday 29 January until Tuesday 6 February.

The first strike in this dispute by Aslef was in July 2022, meaning that the row is now in its third calendar year.

It comes among a long-running pay dispute with 16 train companies.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We have given the Government every opportunity to come to the table but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It’s clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.

“Many of our members have not had a single penny increase to their pay for half a decade, during which time inflation has soared and, with it, the cost of living.

“Train drivers didn’t even ask for an increase during the Covid-19 pandemic when we worked throughout lockdown as key workers, risking our lives, to move goods around the country and to enable NHS and other workers to get to work.”

“Mr Whelan also railed against new legislation requiring Minimum Service Levels during industrial action.”

The union boss claimed the new law passed late last year “won’t ease industrial strife”, adding that it would “likely just make it worse”.

The Minimum Service Levels law enables employers to require a certain number of staff to work and ensure some service throughout strikes. For passenger rail services, this would equate to 40 per cent of their planned timetable.

It is unclear if train companies will seek to implement these minimum levels for Aslef’s newest strikes – there is no requirement for train companies to use Minimum Service Levels.

Which train companies will be affected, and when?

• Tuesday 30 January: Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Thameslink, South Western Railway and SWR Island Line
• Wednesday 31 January: Northern Trains, Transpennine Express
• Friday 2 February: Greater Anglia, C2C, LNER
• Saturday 3 February: West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway
• Monday 5 February: Great Western, CrossCountry, Chiltern

There will be no strike action on 1 February and 4 February.

Normal services are still expected to run on train operators not on strike, including ScotRail and Transport for Wales.

In the past, most train operators affected by industrial action have not been able to run any trains, with only a few companies operating with a limited timetable.

Why is Aslef striking?

Aslef claims train drivers are being asked to work under below-inflation wage increases and demand a bigger salary rise than train companies are currently prepared to offer.

Train operators, in response, say financial challenges mean drivers’ working conditions must change in order to justify higher wage increases.

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There have been no formal talks been the union and operators since April 2023, when the union rejected a 4 per cent pay rise for two years in a row – on the condition that they would accept industry-wide changes to driver training and, potentially, drivers’ work patterns as well.

The Government has a final say on how much money can be offered in negotiations.

While the RMT union, representing tens of thousands of other rail workers, accepted a deal in November, Aslef has continuously voted to continue industrial action until the spring.

The Rail Delivery Group – which represents the train operators – have been contacted for comment