Drivers’ strike causes severe disruption to rail services
Rail passengers faced disruption today as thousands of train drivers went on strike, Natalia Jorquera reports
Rail services have been severely disrupted because of a strike by train drivers in the latest outbreak of unrest in the industry.
Members of the drivers union Aslef at seven train operators staged a 24-hour walk out over pay.
The Rail Delivery Group said the industrial action has been timed to coincide with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the start of the new season for most English football league clubs.
Earlier, the AA's first “amber traffic warning” was in place between 11am and 3pm.
There was disruption to parts of the rail network on Saturday, and it will continue into the morning of Sunday.
The strike is hitting Arriva Rail London, Greater Anglia, Great Western, Hull Trains, LNER, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains.
Steve Montgomery, chairman of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We’re really disappointed that the Aslef leadership has decided to impose yet more uncertainty and disruption for passengers and businesses in a week which has already seen a strike by the RMT.
“Millions of passengers will have their weekend plans disrupted, particularly those who are working, or going to the Commonwealth Games or the first football match of the season."
He added: “By making these necessary reforms such [as] ending the reliance on volunteer working at weekend, we improve punctuality, have more resilient Sunday services and use those savings to give our people a pay rise which has always been what we want to do.
“Further strikes will see our people out of pocket and mean less money to fund a pay rise, so we urge the Aslef leadership to resume talks so we can reach a deal that is fair to staff and taxpayers, and which secures a bright, long-term future of our railway.”
Further strikes are planned next month by Aslef and the RMT in the deadlocked row over pay, jobs and conditions.
“Strikes are always the last resort,” said Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef.
“We don’t want to inconvenience passengers, our friends and families use public transport, too, and we don’t want to lose money by going on strike but we’ve been forced into this position by the companies, who say they have been driven to this by the Tory government.
“Many of our members, who were the men and women who moved key workers and goods around the country during the pandemic, have not had a pay rise since 2019.
“With inflation running at north of 10% that means those drivers have had a real terms pay cut over the last three years."
He added: “We want an increase in line with the cost of living, we want to be able to buy, in 2022, what we could buy in 2021.
“It’s not unreasonable to ask your employer to make sure you’re not worse off for three years in a row.
“Especially as the train companies are doing very nicely, thank you, out of Britain’s railways, with handsome profits, dividends for shareholders, and big salaries for managers, and train drivers don’t want to work longer for less.
“Wage rises aren’t fuelling inflation.
“Excess profiteering is, but the government isn’t asking companies to cut profits or dividend payments to help manage inflation.
“Wages are chasing prices, not putting them up.
“We don’t see why we should forego an increase in salary to keep pace with inflation and help the privatised train companies make even bigger profits to send abroad.”
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Mr Montgomery previously issued an open invitation to Aslef’s leaders to meet with him to hold “meaningful talks” to resolve the dispute.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Transport Focus, said: “Passengers will be frustrated that, again, their plans are being disrupted.
“It is crucial that talks continue to find a solution that avoids passengers being continually dragged into this industrial dispute.
“Information will be key throughout the disruption. Train companies should keep looking at the specific areas for improvement we identified from the June strikes about refunds, compensation and clear information. We will again monitor the impact on passengers and on those who cannot travel.”
There are no services on the London Overground network because of the strike on Arriva Rail London.
There will also be no Night Overground services on Saturday evening and the early hours on Sunday.
Andy Lord, Transport for London’s chief operating officer, said: “Planned strike action on the national rail network on Saturday will mean disruption for our customers.
“With no service expected on the entire London Overground network, I advise all customers to check before they travel and use alternative routes to complete their journeys.”
Former shadow transport minister Sam Tarry, who was sacked from the frontbench this week, joined another picket line at Paddington station in London on Saturday.
Mr Tarry and London Assembly transport lead Elly Baker supported Aslef members at the station as thousands of train drivers from seven train firms walked out for 24 hours.
He was sacked on Wednesday hours after joining strikers at an RMT picket line at Euston Station.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who previously banned frontbenchers from joining picket lines, said Mr Tarry was sacked for booking himself onto media programmes without permission and making up policy “on the hoof”.
Mr Tarry also appeared alongside former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at a rally for striking BT workers on Friday.
Rail services will be severely disrupted on Saturday because of a strike by train drivers in the latest outbreak of unrest in the industry. Have you been impacted by the strike today? Get in touch with your story to alex.cherrie@itn.co.uk