When are the next train strikes? Latest Aslef rail strike dates in September and lines affected
Train drivers will walk out in fresh strike action next month over pay and working conditions, threatening more travel disruption.
Aslef, Britain’s trade union for train drivers, said the strike will force train companies across England to cancel all services, while a ban on overtime will “seriously disrupt” the network.
When will the strike take place?
Members of Aslef will strike on 1 September and are banning overtime on 2 September – the same day as a strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) gets under way.
The strike is set to have maximum impact, as Aslef said its strike will mean train companies across England will have to cancel all services.
The union says the privatised train-operating companies do not employ enough drivers to provide a “proper service” without drivers having to work on their days off. It will be the 12th one-day strike by Aslef members since the dispute started over a year ago.
Which services are affected?
The rail 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
- West Midlands Trains
Why is the strike taking place?
Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, said the union did not want to take extra strike action but the train companies and the Government had “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.”
Mr Whelan added: “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.
“Train drivers at these companies have not had a pay rise for four years, since 2019, while inflation has rocketed, we haven’t heard a word from the employers – we haven’t had a meeting, a phone call, a text message, or an email – since April 26 and we haven’t had any contact with the Government since January 6.
“This shows how the contempt in which the companies, and the Government, hold passengers and staff and public transport in Britain.”
Other train strikes
The RMT is also striking on 26 August in its dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Trains are likely to start later and finish much earlier than usual, with only around half of services in some areas.
Other parts of the country will have fewer or no services at all. It is likely that evening services on some lines may be reduced on the days before and on the mornings after strike days.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has advised passengers that there will be reduced services across the rail network on those days.
“Train companies are doing all they can to keep passengers moving, but those travelling during that period are advised to plan ahead and check before they travel,” the company said in a statement.
“RMT union members such as station staff, train managers, and catering staff will participate in the strikes, causing some disruption to travel plans.
“As the level of disruption will vary across the country, passengers are advised to check their travel arrangements in advance. We expect that more than half of the service will be running across the country.”
An RDG spokesperson said: “While the industry is working hard to keep as many services running as possible, the strikes called by the RMT leadership are designed to deliberately target passengers who want to enjoy various sporting events, festivals, and the end of the summer holidays, disrupting their plans, hurting local economies and forcing more cars onto the road.
“This, despite having repeatedly refused its membership a vote on an offer of up to 13 per cent for the lowest paid over two years, which could settle this dispute.
“There will unfortunately be some reduced services on Saturday 26 August and Saturday 2 September.
“Our advice is to check before you travel and follow the latest travel information, and passengers with advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled.”
The rail unions are also campaigning against plans to close most railway ticket offices, with more than 300,000 people responding to a consultation, which ends on 1 September.
