December train strikes: All the information you need to know

Aslef, the union representing train drivers, has initiated another phase of labor strikes in their ongoing and contentious disagreement with 14 train companies in England regarding compensation and working conditions.

The general secretary, Mick Whelan, stated that the reason for the strike is not to cause inconvenience to passengers, but to demonstrate their displeasure with the government’s inflexibility and the lack of good faith exhibited by the private companies that employ them.

Train operators are requesting a pay raise without any conditions, and then discussing ways to update work methods at a regional level – but this will come at a cost to the employers. Aslef notes that certain drivers have not received a salary increase in the past five years.

According to the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), the operators of the train have stated that any salary increase will only be considered if significant changes are made.

The Department for Transport (DfT) will approve all agreements. Taxpayers are covering the costs, as ticket sales have decreased by about 20% compared to before the pandemic, resulting in a subsidy of £16,300 per minute for the railway, which is £4,000 higher than pre-Covid levels.

The union has not had any discussions with the RDG since April or with ministers since January.

A representative from the Department for Transport expressed disappointment that Aslef is choosing to disrupt the public and hospitality establishments during the festive season. Instead of striking, Aslef should consider following the lead of other rail unions and allowing their members to vote on the proposed fair pay agreement.

A representative from the Rail Delivery Group stated: “The strike organized by the Aslef leaders is completely unnecessary and will unfortunately impact customers and businesses during the important holiday season.”

Aslef is currently in conflict with the railway companies that have been contracted by the government to offer rail services. These companies include:

Intercity operators:

London commuter operators:

Operators specializing in the Midlands and northern regions of England.

An overtime restriction lasting for nine days is resulting in numerous cancellations from December 1st to 9th.

Union workers will be participating in strikes between the dates of 2 and 8 December. Each day, except for Monday 4 December, a specific region will be the focus of the strike in order to create the biggest impact. As a result, numerous train companies have decided to cancel all of their services on the designated strike days.

Aslef states that they have previously organized a general strike on the same day. However, this time they have chosen to spread out the strike action, which was supported by a majority of members, and also implement an overtime ban throughout the week. This will have a larger impact on the rail industry.

The effect on each train company varies based on its reliance on overtime and the level of employee absences, which are expected to be greater during the winter season compared to summer.

Several operators have preemptively canceled a large number of services in response to the overtime ban and to minimize disruptions on the day. Passengers are advised that trains may be altered or canceled with short notice.

Several trains were cancelled on the first day, such as South Western Railway’s service from London Waterloo to Southampton, Great Western Railway’s route from London Paddington to Weston-super-Mare via Bristol and Carmarthen through Cardiff and Swansea, and TransPennine Express connections from Manchester and Newcastle to Edinburgh. Additionally, a few Manchester-Leeds-Hull services were also affected.

The following rail companies have announced pre-emptive cancellations:

Aslef members who are train drivers will be going on strike on specific days for certain train companies.

Both ScotRail and Transport for Wales are not participants in the disagreement.

Using past occurrences as a guide, these are the potential effects that may occur if drivers go on strike. It is recommended to double check closer to the date of travel for confirmation.

Furthermore, not only will train services be disrupted on strike days, but also on neighboring days. These trains are expected to be overcrowded as passengers reschedule their trips to avoid the effects of the strike.

Unfortunately, Sunday, December 3rd will most likely be a hectic day for those attempting to travel from the north to the south. Due to the Aslef strike, the majority of services on the West Coast main line, connecting London Euston to the West Midlands, northwest England, North Wales, and southern Scotland, will be suspended.

For many, the usual backup option would be to take the LNER train on the East Coast main line. However, due to long-standing Network Rail maintenance, the section of the line south of St Neots in Cambridgeshire will be completely closed. To accommodate for this, buses will be provided for passengers traveling between St Neots and Bedford, where they would typically catch a Thameslink train to London. Unfortunately, these trains will not be running due to the Aslef strike.

On all strike days, passengers can anticipate regular service on ScotRail, Transport for Wales, and the following operators:

During periods of strike among rail companies providing similar services, trains are expected to be more congested.

In the event of a strike by GWR and Avanti West Coast, transport services for Newport, Cardiff, and Swansea, as well as Crewe and Manchester, operated by Transport for Wales may experience higher levels of activity.

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

The Elizabeth Line and Tube provide continuous access to London Heathrow. Despite the strike for Heathrow Express on December 7th, there will still be a limited service from 7am to 7pm.

London Gatwick passengers will face disruptions on two separate occasions. The first being on Sunday, December 3rd, when Thameslink train operators will go on strike. The second will be on Wednesday, December 6th, when Aslef members working for Gatwick Express and Southern will also strike. However, passengers travelling between London, Gatwick, and Brighton can still expect a decent number of trains in operation. These trains may be quite full, particularly during morning rush hour. It is important to note that there will be no Gatwick Express trains running at all.

On Tuesday 5 December, London Stansted will most likely have a limited service, while all other days during the overtime ban will experience “service alterations.”

You can reach Luton airport by train every day, including during strike days, from London. On the strike day of Saturday, December 2nd, when East Midlands Railway (EMR) is affected, you can take Thameslink instead. However, the next day, Thameslink will not be operating but EMR will be.

On Saturday, December 2nd, the only way to access Birmingham airport by rail is through Transport for Wales from Birmingham New Street.

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

On strike days, connecting journeys may be challenging, but trains will still operate normally between London St Pancras International and Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

Mick Whelan, the leader of Aslef, stated to The Independent that they are committed to the cause for however long it takes. He believes that this is a political conflict that may only be resolved with a change in leadership.

The majority of RMT members, who are part of the main rail union, have enthusiastically agreed to a 5 percent pay offer with no conditions attached. This will be followed by discussions at the local level, and there will be a guarantee of no additional strikes for the next six months.

Long-distance bus companies such as National Express, Megabus, and FlixBus will continue to operate, but availability of seats is dwindling and prices are increasing.

Air travel prices for domestic flights connecting London airports, Bristol, Exeter, and Southampton to Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Glasgow are expected to rise during the scheduled strike days.

Source: independent.co.uk