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As the initial strikes carried out by train operators in 2024 begin to impact, travelers relying on rail transportation to and from airports are encountering numerous difficulties.
The long and bitter dispute between the train drivers’ union, Aslef, and 14 train operators in England is into its third calendar year. With no settlement in sight to the long and bitter row over pay and working arrangements, Aslef are stopping work region-by-region over the course of a week between Tuesday 30 January and Monday 5 February.
The impact is worsened by a suspension of nine days of overtime from January 29th to February 6th.
London Heathrow, the UK’s most heavily trafficked airport, will continue to be reachable via the Heathrow Express, Elizabeth Line, and Tube at all hours. However, other major airports will experience significant disruptions, with the majority of trains being cancelled during strike days. Additionally, there may be some cancellations due to an overtime ban in effect until Tuesday, February 6th.
On Tuesday, January 30, passengers commuting through London Gatwick will experience significant disruptions due to strikes. Both the Gatwick Express and Thameslink trains will not be in operation. However, travelers going between London and Gatwick can still use the Southern shuttle service, which will have nonstop trips between Victoria and the airport. The GWR link from Gatwick to Redhill, Guildford, and Reading will operate as usual on January 30, but will not be available on February 5.
On Friday, February 2nd, London Stansted will operate a limited hourly service to and from the capital. There will be changes to the schedule on all other days during the overtime ban. The route to Norwich will not be available on February 2nd, but trains to Cambridge (and continuing to Birmingham) by CrossCountry will still be in operation. However, on February 5th, there will be no CrossCountry services to Stansted airport or any other destinations.
Luton airport will continue to be reachable by train, specifically from London, every day. Even on the day of the Thameslink strike, January 30th, there will still be a limited service from London St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway. Additionally, the East Midlands Railway connection will still be operating. On February 3rd, when no East Midlands Railway trains are expected to run, Thameslink will be providing transportation between Luton airport, London, Bedford, and Brighton.
On Friday, February 2nd, trains will run hourly at Southend airport with limited operating times.
On Tuesday, January 30th, South Western Railway will not provide service to Southampton airport. Similarly, on Monday, February 5th, CrossCountry will also not serve the airport.
On January 31, Wednesday, Manchester airport will experience a significant decrease in its train service. Due to strikes by Northern and TransPennine Express drivers, there will only be one train per hour provided by Transport for Wales for travel to and from central Manchester, Chester, and North Wales.
On Saturday, February 3rd, Birmingham airport will most likely not be reachable by train, except for Transport for Wales departing from Birmingham New Street.
The ongoing strike does not affect airports in Scotland and Wales that have railway connections.
Source: independent.co.uk
