All you need to know about the December train strikes. Important information about the train strikes happening in December.

Aslef, the union representing train drivers, has declared a new wave of strikes in their ongoing and contentious disagreement with 14 train companies in England regarding wages, employment, and working conditions.

The union workers will go on strike on various dates between December 2nd and December 8th.

Every day, except for Monday 4 December, a specific area of the country will be selected in order to create the most disruption.

Also, there will be additional cancellations from December 1st to December 9th due to a nine-day overtime ban.

Here are the main inquiries and responses regarding the railway strikes.

Aslef members who are train operators will go on strike on the specified dates:

Neither ScotRail nor Transport for Wales are part of the disagreement.

Using past occurrences as a reference, these are the probable consequences of drivers going on strike. It is recommended to double-check closer to the day of travel for confirmation.

Furthermore, there may be interruptions on days surrounding the strike, leading to potential delays for train services. As a result, trains during this time are expected to experience high volumes of passengers as people adjust their travel plans to avoid the strike.

The effect on each train company will vary based on their reliance on overtime, as well as the level of employee absences, which are expected to be higher during the winter months compared to summer.

Certain operators may opt to preemptively cancel events in order to account for the overtime ban and minimize potential disruptions on the day of the event.

No. On all the strike dates, passengers can expect normal service on ScotRail, Transport for Wales and these operators:

When there is a strike among rail companies that offer similar services, trains tend to be more packed.

On Saturday 2 December, Hull Trains, Lumo, and Grand Central may experience higher volumes of passengers due to the strikes occurring on East Midlands Railway and LNER.

During the strike of GWR and Avanti West Coast, there may be increased traffic on Transport for Wales routes connecting Newport, Cardiff, and Swansea, as well as Crewe and Manchester.

Certain stations may have restrictions on boarding or exiting trains in order to prevent overcrowding.

The Elizabeth Line and Tube will provide continuous access to London Heathrow.

Travelers using London Gatwick Airport will experience disruption on two separate occasions: first on Sunday, December 3rd, when train drivers on the Thameslink line will go on strike, and again on Wednesday, December 6th when workers from Aslef, who operate trains for Gatwick Express and Southern, will also strike. However, for those traveling between London, Gatwick, and Brighton, there will still be a decent amount of trains in operation. It’s important to note that these trains may be significantly overcrowded, especially during morning rush hour.

It is probable that London Stansted will have a limited service on Tuesday, December 5th.

Luton airport will be available for travel from London every day, including during strike days. On Saturday, December 2nd, when East Midlands Railway (EMR) is affected by a strike, Thameslink can be utilized. However, on the following day, Thameslink will not be operational but EMR will resume service.

On Saturday, December 2nd, Birmingham airport will only be accessible by Transport for Wales from Birmingham New Street.

On Sunday, December 3rd, Manchester airport can only be reached by rail through Transport for Wales trains originating from Manchester Piccadilly, Chester, and North Wales.

There will be no disruption to train services between London St Pancras International and Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. However, it may be challenging to make connecting journeys during strike days.

It is highly improbable. The distances between the sides are significant. Aslef train drivers have gone on strike 14 times since the national strikes started in the summer of 2022.

Aslef is requesting a raise for train operators who have not received a salary increase in four and a half years without any conditions attached.

A previous proposal from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) was dependent on changes to working conditions and was declined by the union leaders without being given a chance for members to vote on it.

Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, stated that their goal is to resolve the issue and secure a substantial salary increase for train drivers. The last pay raise was in 2019, despite the continually rising cost of living.

“Our members have voiced their opinions and we are aware of their thoughts. Each time they cast their vote – and the majority have voted in favor – for a strike as a means to obtain a fair increase in salary, it is a clear refusal of the offer presented in April.”

The RDG’s proposal, which aimed to take control of all our terms and conditions, was presented with the understanding that it would not be accepted.

Mark Harper, the transport secretary, was accused of being “missing in action” during the dispute.

A representative from the Department for Transport expressed disappointment that Aslef is disrupting the public and hospitality sector during the start of the holiday season.

Households paid £1,000 in taxes to support train drivers’ employment during the pandemic. Rather than going on strike, Aslef should take after the example of other rail unions and allow their members to vote on this equitable compensation agreement.

A representative for the Rail Delivery Group stated that the strike organized by Aslef leaders is completely unnecessary and will unfortunately cause inconvenience to customers and businesses during the important holiday season.

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The industry has presented a reasonable and accessible proposal that would increase the average driver’s base salary for a four-day work week from £60,000 to almost £65,000. This offer is still available for consideration.

“We strongly encourage the Aslef leadership to present this option to its members, allowing our passengers to have a Merry Christmas and resolve this harmful labor disagreement.”

The primary railway labor organization, the RMT, is currently in conflict with the train companies. However, they are voting on a salary proposal that includes a 5% increase without any conditions, followed by discussions at a local level. It seems likely that this offer will be approved.

As usual, the long-distance bus companies – National Express, Megabus, and FlixBus – will continue operating. However, there is limited availability of seats and prices are increasing.

Flights within the UK departing from London airports, Bristol, Exeter, and Southampton and heading to Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Glasgow may experience a rise in ticket prices during the days affected by the planned strike.

Source: independent.co.uk