London train strikes August 2024: everything you need to know

It’s been more than two years since rail workers first started striking over around pay, working conditions and job security. But could the end finally be in sight?

We bring you some good news, because 22 days of train strikes by LNER drivers have just been suspended. Due to start on Saturday August 31, now your weekend will be blissfully strike-free. 

In other good news, in recent weeks representatives of ASLEF and the Department for Transport have been negotiating, and now the two sides have agreed a deal. A new pay increase offer is a backdated 5 percent increase for 2022/23, a 4.75 percent rise for 2023/24, and 4.5 percent increase for 2024/25. Union members will now vote on whether or not to approve it. On top of all that, the Labour government is reportedly rolling back the previous government’s ‘minimum service’ anti-strike laws. 

In other words, two years of strikes could be coming to an end for most Brits – even if they continue on certain services. Here’s everything we currently know. 

RECOMMENDED: All you need to know about the train strikes across the UK.

When are the next London train strikes?

The strikes due to take place on LNER services every Saturday from August 31 to November 9, and every Sunday from September 1 to November 10 have just been suspended. 

Which London train lines will be affected?

Now that the strikes are called off, none. 

When are the tube strikes?

There are no more strikes planned for the tube, following the TSSA customer service strikes on April 26.  

How long will the London train strikes last?

A typical strike day tends to last for an entire 24-hour period. However, there could also be disruption on the day following a strike. 

When it comes to other train lines, each operator is different. Check your respective rail operator’s official website to find out exactly how many trains will be running and how long the action is expected to impact services. 

Is the London Overground on strike?

Strikes on the Overground (which was recently renamed and re-coloured) in February were suspended. No more action is planned. 

Will the Elizabeth line be on strike? 

There are no strikes currently planned for Elizabeth line services. 

Will strikes affect the Eurostar? 

Eurostar is not expected to be affected by any strike dates. Find the latest details on the Eurostar website.

Why are UK train workers striking?

LNER drivers are striking to protest a breakdown in industrial relations. ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan claims LNER has repeatedly broken agreements, acted in ‘bad faith’, and acted with ‘boorish behaviour and bullying tactics’.

The ASLEF union was striking nationwide to protest a below-inflation pay increase. After the negotiations, ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said: ‘There is no reason to strike if people are talking to you.’

He further explained: ‘Anybody meeting us at all is a major step forward. We went through a period of time when nobody in the government would talk to us, so we hadn’t seen the former Secretary of State since December 2022 and the Rail Minister since January 2023.

‘The fact that the Labour party met with us within seven days of taking power and put a team in place to talk to us I think is a major step forward, and the whole tone has changed.’

How to get to London airports during the train strikes

When trains are out of action due to strikes, there are other ways to get to London’s airports. Both the tube (Piccadilly line) and other rail lines (like the Elizabeth line) service Heathrow, while coaches frequently run from central and outer London areas from the likes of National Express. They’re also, obvs, all accessible by road – whether you’d like to drive or get a taxi. Expect higher levels of traffic during strike days.

The LNER does not service London’s airports, though the strikes may disrupt those looking to get into the city. 

A bill requiring striking workers to meet ‘minimum service levels’ was passed by the Conservative government last year. The anti-strike legislation supposedly ensures ‘minimum service levels’ on key public services, including trains, theoretically making it pretty difficult for things to grind to a complete halt. 

In practice, however, the law has not been effectively put into practice. And this week the current Labour government has confirmed that it is rolling back the law, telling employers not to enforce it while it passes a new law to formally abolish it. 

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