Only around one in five trains were running on Wednesday, around half the network, with some areas having no trains all day. Picket lines were set up outside stations as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network Rail and 14 train operators went on strike. Average motorway speed drops by up to 14mph – rail strikes live The lack of rail services has forced more people to take to the motorways – with average speeds on the M1 falling by up to 14mph, according to traffic website Waze. Trains will also be closed on Thursday morning with a later start as workers return to work. Thousands of drivers across nine rail companies are set to go on one-day strike action on Saturday 13 August as the pay dispute escalates. A separate strike by drivers in seven railway operators is already planned for this Saturday. Both strikes will affect Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, LNER, London Overground, Southeastern and West Midlands trains. The Avanti West Coast and Cross Country staff will not be taking part on Saturday but have now decided to take action in August. Read more: What you need to know as rail strikes continue Ashlef said rail companies had failed to make a pay offer that would keep pace with the rising cost of living. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 5:53 Railway boss: “It’s not for my pay” The union said workers have not had a pay rise since 2019, the equivalent of a real-terms decline over the past three years when taking into account soaring inflation – expected to hit 11% this fall. “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,” said chief secretary Mick Whelan. “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 well, thank you, outside of British Rail – with big profits, dividends for shareholders and big salaries for managers – and drivers don’t want to work more for less.” Network Rail previously said it had offered workers a two-year 8% pay deal with a guarantee of non-compulsory redundancies and other benefits. Train drivers on Chiltern, Northern and TransPennine Express have until August 25 to vote on further strike action, while those on East Midlands Railway have until September 19. Two more rail strike days have already been announced by the RMT for August 18 and 20, while a Tube strike is set to affect London on August 19. A spokesman for Rail Delivery Group said: “The action announced by Aslef leadership shows a cynical approach to talks, a complete disregard for passengers and puts everyone’s summer plans in jeopardy. “This action will bring the total number of rail strike days to 10, disrupting plans in June, July and August. “Like any public service we have to change with the times, and only by making the necessary reforms can we give our citizens a pay rise.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 9:32 Leeds accuse Sapps of strikes Earlier, a row broke out between unions and Transport Minister Grant Shapps after he unveiled plans to curb industrial action, including ending concerted industrial action, limiting picketing and cooling off after strikes. He told the Daily Telegraph: “I am looking at banning strikes by different unions in the same workplace within a set period. “We should also put an absolute limit of six pickets at sites of National Critical Infrastructure, regardless of the number of unions involved, and outlaw threatening language. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “If Grand Sapps had his way we’d all still be in the workshop.” Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The government wants to turn back the clock to the Victorian era, when children sent up chimneys and workers were ruthlessly exploited.” Listen to and subscribe to The Ian King Business Podcast here.
