National Rail Strikes to Disrupt Services in May
National rail strikes by train drivers will enter a third summer with a series of “rolling” walkouts, one region at a time, during May. The strikes aim to halt thousands of trains on May 7, 8, and 9, 2024, targeting commuters who typically travel to work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Members of the Aslef union, which represents train drivers, are demanding a pay increase of 4 plus 4 per cent over two years, covering the 2022 and 2023 pay awards. However, the government insists that even a modest pay increase is contingent on radical changes to long-standing working arrangements in order to reduce costs and the huge subsidies the railway is currently receiving from the taxpayer.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing 14 rail firms in England, will be impacted by the disruptions. These firms include CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, TransPennine Express, C2C, Greater Anglia, GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink), Southeastern, South Western Railway (including the Island Line on the Isle of Wight), Chiltern Railways, Northern Trains, West Midlands Railway (including London Northwestern Railway). Drivers belonging to the Aslef union will strike in different regions on each day of the industrial action.
In addition, six days of overtime bans from May 6 to 11 will cause further cancellations. While some train operators may run a reduced service, passengers are advised to check with their train operator for the latest information. The strikes and overtime bans are expected to cause significant disruptions to rail services, particularly during peak commuting times. Passengers are advised to plan their travel accordingly and consider alternative modes of transport if possible.
The dispute between train drivers and rail firms stems from disagreements over pay and working arrangements. Drivers are demanding a pay increase to address inflation, while rail firms are seeking changes to working practices, such as making Sunday part of the working week everywhere, in order to reduce costs. Negotiations between the two sides have been ongoing for months, but no agreement has yet been reached.
