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When is the next train strike? Dates and affected lines in April and May 2024

More industrial action is expected to take place in the coming weeks and months

Chiara Wilkinson
Amy Houghton
Written by
Chiara Wilkinson
&
Amy Houghton
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Disputes between trade unions and train companies in the UK have now been dragging on for well over 18 months, with rail workers taking action to protest poor pay and working conditions. So, it’s a surprise to absolutely no one that more train strikes are on the way. 

ASLEF train drivers will walk out again for three days in April. The union previously voted to continue striking until at least August 2024. Two days of industrial action have also been confirmed for London’s tube network. 

In better news, the RMT says that it has come to some sort of agreement with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) over pay and job security that will pause action by RMT members until sometime this spring. 

Here is everything you need to know about upcoming industrial action on the UK’s rail network. 

RECOMMENDED:
All you need to know about the train strikes in London.

When are the next train strike dates?

ASLEF has announced a rail driver strike on April 5, 6 and 8, including a six-day overtime ban. This will affect 16 rail companies.

On top of this, there will be strikes on London’s tube on April 8 and May 4.  

What train lines will be affected?

For the upcoming strikes, operators will be impacted by three one-day strikes. Here’s the breakdown of which lines will be affected on which days. 

April 5: Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, CrossCountry

April 6: Chiltern, GWR, LNER, Northern, TransPennine

April 8: c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR, Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and depot drivers, SWR Island Line.

When ASLEF workers go on strike, these are the lines that are typically impacted. 

  • Avanti West Coast
  • CrossCountry
  • East Midlands Railway
  • Great Western Railway
  • LNER
  • TransPennine Express
  • C2C
  • Greater Anglia
  • GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink)
  • Southeastern
  • South Western Railway
  • Chiltern Railways
  • Northern Trains
  • West Midlands Railway

How will rail travel be affected by the strikes?

Workers at most rail firms take part in strike action, so rail travel typically comes to a standstill all over the country. You can find out more about how services are affected on the National Rail website.

Often, disruption isn’t just on the day of a strike. There is usually also an impact on services in the afternoon and evening on the day before each strike, as well as on the morning of the day after. This is because trains and drivers are out of their planned positions as a result of the strikes. 

Do workers get paid when on strike?

UK law states that employers do not have to pay employees who take part in industrial action. However, some unions keep some money aside to issue strikers with ‘strike pay’ while they occupy picket lines. For example, the RMT has the National Dispute Fund, which is supported by union membership payments as well as donations from members of the public.

When will the rail strikes end?

Unless a deal on pay, job security and working conditions is reached between unions and rail operators, it’s likely that strikes could continue for a long while yet. ASLEF members at Chiltern, C2C, East Midlands, Northern and TransPennine have voted to continue striking until at least August 2024. 

While the RMT reached a deal with the RDG at the end of 2023, this is only a temporary agreement until more discussions take place this spring. 

Why are rail workers striking?

Different rail unions have been striking for different reasons – including job security and working conditions – but the overarching reason is a cut in real-terms pay.

ASLEF workers on Northern and LNER walked out over claims that the operators persistently failed to comply with agreements concerning bullying and intimidation. 

Drivers at ASLEF have also been walking out after what it called a ‘risible’ pay offer of four percent a year for two years, as well as changes to working conditions. 

What’s the deal with working practices?

Due to changes in travelling habits following the pandemic, with fewer commuters and off-peak train travel, some bosses want to change previous ‘archaic’ working practices and to introduce new technology and run teams more efficiently. Unions fear this may lead to job cuts, and it’s one of the most contentious issues in the dispute.

Can I get a refund if my train is cancelled?

According to National Rail, if your train is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled due to the industrial action, you will:

• Be entitled to a change or refund from the original retailer of your ticket
• Be able to use your ticket with another train company or an alternative route if it is available

Is the Eurostar affected by the train strikes?

Eurostar has said that strikes will not affect its timetable. However, if you’re getting a connecting journey within the UK, make sure that you check whether it is still running before you leave and allow extra time when travelling to and from London on strike days.

What do rail chiefs and unions have to say about the strikes?

ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan, said: ‘We have given the government every opportunity to come to the table but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It’s clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.

‘Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living.

‘The government has now tried their old trick of changing the rules when they can’t win and brought in minimum service levels legislation. But this new law, as we told officials during the consultation period, won’t ease industrial strife. It will likely just make it worse.

‘There’s no excuse. The government and train operating companies must come to the table with a realistic offer so we can end this dispute and work together to ensure the future of our railways.’

Are there any other strikes to be aware of?

There are indeed. Not only are tube drivers in London striking (find out more about that here), but the capital is currently seeing industrial action on its trams.

Meanwhile, Border Force staff at Heathrow recently voted to strike, and lots of industrial action is taking place in airports across Europe

Did you see the full list of high street stores closing in 2024?

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