Rail passengers face rolling strikes but London Underground action called off | Rail strikes

Rail passengers are bracing for journey disruption as practice drivers convey some routes on the nationwide community to a halt in a wave of strikes, however two days of comparable motion on the London Underground have been known as off.

On Friday, members of the union Aslef begin the primary of three 24-hour strikes that can have an effect on 16 rail working corporations in England as a part of its 20-month dispute over pay.

Nevertheless, on Thursday Aslef known as off two daylong tube strikes deliberate for the next Monday and Saturday 4 Might after receiving a proposal from Transport for London that it mentioned resolved the important thing points within the dispute.

The run of single-day nationwide community strikes begins on Friday with drivers working for Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, London Northwestern Railway and CrossCountry. All 5 operators will run no providers on the day.

On Saturday, strikes will happen on Chiltern, GWR, LNER, Northern and TransPennine, whereas on Monday providers on Higher Anglia, GTR’s Nice Northern, Thameslink and Southern/Gatwick Specific, Southeastern, South Western Railway and SWR Island Line can be cancelled.

Passengers have been warned by operators to count on vital disruption, with most trains cancelled on the strike days. Providers on the times earlier than and after the strikes is also affected. Drivers in Scotland and Wales usually are not on strike however cross-border rail providers can be disrupted.

The strikes coincide with an time beyond regulation ban by the union for all operators, which runs from 4 to six April, after which 8 to 9 April. It’s anticipated that it’ll make short-notice cancellations and disruption extra possible when travelling on lately.

Saying the cancellation of the London Underground strikes, an Aslef official mentioned: “Administration have confirmed that they’ve disbanded their ‘trains modernisation’ crew and won’t be implementing their plans to alter drivers’ working preparations with out settlement. They’ve additionally agreed to reinstate annual refresher coaching stopped in the course of the pandemic.”

Final month, 96% of the union’s members voted to take motion. Practice drivers have already held 13 one-day strikes because the dispute began in 2022.

Talking after the vote final month, Aslef’s normal secretary, Mick Whelan, mentioned: “Our members voted overwhelmingly – but once more – for strike motion.

“These votes present – but once more – a transparent rejection by practice drivers of the ridiculous supply put to us in April final yr by [the train operators’ body] the Rail Supply Group, which knew that supply could be rejected as a result of a land seize for all of the phrases and circumstances we now have negotiated through the years would by no means be accepted by our members.”

Aslef has mentioned it might proceed to strike for a greater pay deal after the union rejected an 8% supply final spring.

A spokesperson for the Rail Supply Group mentioned: “We’re sorry that this spherical of strikes known as by the Aslef management dangers disrupting journeys.

“Whereas we’re doing all we will to maintain trains working and we are going to work with our business companions to maintain as many trains working as potential, sadly there can be lowered providers between Thursday 4 April to Tuesday 9 April. Our recommendation is to verify earlier than you journey and observe the newest journey data.”

A Division for Transport spokesperson mentioned: “Aslef is the one rail union persevering with to strike … Having resolved disputes with all different rail unions, the transport secretary and rail minister have ensured {that a} pay supply is on the desk – taking practice drivers’ common salaries from £60,000 as much as £65,000.”