New train strike dates announced by Aslef union

A fresh wave of train strikes are set to take place over the next month as part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Train drivers who are members of the Aslef union will walk out between Tuesday 30 January and Monday 5 February.

Drivers will also refuse to work overtime from Monday 29 January until Tuesday 6 February.

Aslef’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: "We have given the government every opportunity to come to the table but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It's clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.

"Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living.”

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operating companies, said drivers had been made an offer which would take base salaries to nearly £65,000 for a four-day week without overtime.

UKHospitality estimated the upcoming strikes could cost the hospitality industry almost £350m and said the sector had already lost £4b in sales as part of the ongoing dispute.

"January and February are already two of the quieter months of the year for venues and this disruption will make it even more painful," said UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls.

**Walkouts will take place on the following dates: **

Tuesday 30 January: Southeastern, GTR Southern/Gatwick Express, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, SWR Island Line, South Western Railway Depot Drivers, South Western Railway mainline drivers

Wednesday 31 January: Northern Trains, Transpennine Trains

Friday 2 February: Greater Anglia, C2C, LNER

Saturday 3 February: West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway

Monday 5 February: Great Western Railway, CrossCountry, Chiltern