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11 months ago
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Striking train drivers have plunged Britain's rail lines into chaos today after the walkout saw the Gatwick Express service scrapped in blow to thousands of holidaymakers.
Members of the Aslef union at South Western Railway, Southern, Southeastern, Gatwick Express and the Isle of Wight's Island Line will walk out for 24 hours in the latest in a series of stoppages this week which are causing travel chaos.
Aslef says its members are determined to continue taking industrial action until they receive an improved pay offer on one made earlier this year of 8% over two years.
Train operators and the Government are urging Aslef to put the offer to a ballot, but the union points out that its members have regularly voted to continue taking strike action.
A quiet Liverpool Street Station amid this week's rail strikes
Members of the Aslef union at South Western Railway, Southern, Southeastern, Gatwick Express and the Isle of Wight's Island Line will walk out for 24 hours
General secretary Mick Whelan said the message he is receiving is that train drivers are solidly behind the campaign and want to go 'further and faster' to try to break the deadlock.
South Western Railway said an 'extremely limited' service will operate on a small number of lines, between 7am and 7pm on Wednesday, with most of the network closed.
Services will only run on routes including London Waterloo to Basingstoke, Woking, Guildford and Feltham, and Basingstoke to Salisbury.
There will be no services to stations including Bournemouth, Exeter, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Staines, Windsor and Yeovil, or on the Island Line.
The usual non-stop Gatwick Express service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton will not operate.
An Industrial Action sign at the Windsor and Eton Riverside Railway Station in Windsor
A limited Southern shuttle service will run, calling at Gatwick Airport and London Victoria only. No other Southern services will be running on Wednesday.
Southeastern said none of its trains will run.
Strikes will be held at CrossCountry and Great Western Railway on Thursday and on TransPennine and Northern Trains on Friday.
Aslef members are also refusing to work overtime this week as part of the dispute, which is also leading to cancellations and delays.
Rail strike chaos: Which services will be disrupted? When are the walkouts taking place?
Here is a breakdown of which operator is affected and when:
- Wednesday
Gatwick Express: No services.
South Western Railway: Trains will run between 7am and 7pm only, and on a small number of lines.
The only routes open will be between London Waterloo and each of Basingstoke; Woking; Guildford via Woking; and Feltham via Twickenham; and between Basingstoke and Salisbury.
Southeastern: No services.
Southern: No services except a shuttle between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport only.
- Thursday
CrossCountry: No services.
Great Western Railway: Trains will run between 7am and 7pm only, and on a small number of lines.
The only routes open will be between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads; London Paddington and Oxford; Reading and Basingstoke; Reading and Redhill (peak time only); Reading and Newbury (peak time only); Westbury and Swindon (peak time only); Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads; Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple (peak time only); Exeter St Davids and Exmouth (calling at Exeter Central, Digby and Topsham only); Plymouth and Gunnislake; and Penzance and St Ives.
Heathrow Express: Trains will run between 7.01am and 7pm only, and at a reduced frequency.
- Friday
Northern: No services.
TransPennine Express: No services.
In addition to the strikes, Aslef has also implemented an overtime ban up to and including Saturday, which is disrupting many English train operators.
Severe weather is also causing delays and cancellations on parts of the network.
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