Members of the Aslef union will stop work for 24 hours at seven train operators, disrupting some parts of the network and leaving only a few trains running on some other lines. The drivers’ strike comes three days after a national strike by members of the Rail, Shipping and Transport (RMT) union, including Network Rail signalmen and crew at 14 train operators, shut down most services. The strike coincides with the opening weekend of the Commonwealth Games and the opening day of the new season of English football. West Midlands Trains, which runs services to sporting venues around Birmingham, the host city of the Games, will have no services this Saturday due to the strike. However, strike action was called off at Chiltern Railways, which runs services between London and Birmingham, after Aslef agreed to repeat a strike vote by its members rather than risk an injunction over objections to it. No trains will run at all in the South East or most of London Overground. Only a few trains will run on Great Western, with no Heathrow Express or GWR services west of Bristol to Wales. LNER trains will be significantly reduced, especially through Leeds, and will not run north of Edinburgh. Only a few Greater Anglia services and one Hull Trains service in each direction will operate on Saturday. Some disruption is expected to continue into the morning of Sunday, July 31 due to shift patterns and the effects of the disruption. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which speaks for train operators, said the strike would disrupt the plans of millions of passengers, particularly those hoping to attend sporting events. He urged passengers to plan ahead and check the latest travel advisories. RDG chairman Steve Montgomery said: “We are really disappointed that Aslef leadership has decided to impose even more uncertainty and disruption on passengers and businesses in a week that has already seen a strike by the RMT. “Like any service or business, we need to move with the times and we can’t keep asking taxpayers or passengers for more money when we should be responding to the huge changes in travel behavior post-Covid.” RDG said passengers could use any advance tickets on Friday or until Tuesday, or change their tickets or request a refund. Montgomery urged Ashlef to continue the talks. However, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan responded: “We are happy to talk – but the train operators say there is nothing to discuss, they have no offer to make.” Aslef, like sister unions the RMT and the Private Transport Salaried Association (TSSA), say the government has prevented the industry from offering a pay rise that approaches inflation, although ministers claim it is in the hands of employers. The union agreed in principle a 6.6% rise from Transport for Wales, although this is expected to be ratified by members, following an 8.2% deal with Eurostar and a 5.1% rise at ScotRail. Whelan said strikes were “always a last resort” but that the union was “forced into this position by the companies, who say they were driven into it by the Tory government”. It said many of its members had not received a pay rise since 2019, suffering a pay cut in real terms. Subscribe to the Business Today daily email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter @BusinessDesk The unions’ analysis was backed by London mayor Sadiq Khan, who said the government was to blame for the strikes, which was “interfering with rail companies who want to do a deal”. Khan said: “The only way to resolve these disputes is if [the transport secretary] Grand Sapps and the government stop pulling strings and allow the rail companies to talk to the unions.” Further strike action by Aslef drivers is planned for August 13, while the RMT and TSSA will take action on August 18 and 20.
