Three further train strike dates set for May and June

Further train strikes have been announced for 12 May, 31 May and 3 June after the train drivers’ union’s rejected a pay offer.

 

The move will cause disruption for thousands of fans who are expected to travel to Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup final on 3 June as well as those heading to Liverpool ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest on 13 May.

 

ASLEF said the proposed 4% pay rise from the 16 train companies with whom it is in dispute was “clearly not designed to be accepted”.

 

It argued that the offer fell short at a time inflation was running at double digits and added its members “have not had an increase for four years”.

 

ASLEF will also be withdrawing non-contractual overtime from 15 – 20 May, as well as on 13 May and 1 June.

 

The strikes will impact services from: Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; GTR Great Northern Thameslink; London North Eastern Railway; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; South Western Railway; SWR depot drivers; SWR Island Line; TransPennine Express; and West Midands Trains.

 

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, said: “We do not want to go on strike … but the blame for this action lies, fairly and squarely, at the feet of the employers who have forced our hand over this by their intransigence.”

 

But a spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represented the train companies, said the offer was worth 8% over two years.

 

They added: “This is disappointing news for our customers and staff, more strike action is totally unnecessary and will only heap more pressure on an industry already facing an acute financial crisis.

 

“We urge the ASLEF leadership to re-join us at the negotiating table and work with us to find a solution to the issues our industry faces and so we can give our people the pay rise we have always said we wanted to do.”

 

It comes after the RMT voted to accept the Network Rail pay offer in March, which was believed to bring the worst of the disruption to an end.

 

Hospitality was reported to have lost £2.5b between summer 2022 and January 2023 as a result of train strikes, according to figures from UKHospitality.

 

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “It’s incredibly frustrating that almost a year on from the start of this dispute, there appears to be no resolution in sight.

 

“Despite some hope that pay offers would bring rail strikes to an end, hospitality businesses are losing hope that the crucial summer season would be uninterrupted by disruption.

 

She added: “I would urge all parties to redouble their efforts in negotiations to reach a resolution and end this long-running dispute, which continues to harm businesses, workers, consumers and public confidence in the rail network.”