London train strikes: Which rail companies and routes are affected for big summer rail walk outs?

Workers on five London railways - Chiltern, Greater Anglia, c2c, South Eastern and South Western - have all voted in favour of strike action.

Published 25th May 2022, 12:32 BST

Railway workers have voted to go on a national strike this summer in the biggest walk-out the country has seen in decades.

Members of the RMT union have voted in favour of strike action across Network Rail and 13 train operating companies.

Southwestern railways have voted for strike action

Southwestern railways have voted for strike action

Workers on five London commuter rail routes - Chiltern, Greater Anglia, c2c, South Eastern and South Western - have all voted in favour of strike action.

The dispute is over pay, jobs and safety.

When is strike action due to start?

The RMT union said its leaders would meet to discuss a timetable for strike action from mid-June.

Which rail companies are affected?

RMT balloted over 40,000 members in Network Rail and the train operating companies.

71% of those balloted took part in the vote with 89% voting in favour of strike action and 11% voting against.

The following companies - which run through London - voted for strike action and action short of strike:

Network Rail
Chiltern Railways
Cross Country Trains
c2c
Greater Anglia
LNER
East Midlands Railway
Great Western Railway
South Eastern
South Western Railway
Avanti West Coast
West Midlands trains

Govia Thameslink Railway - which includes Southern and the Gatwick Express - voted only for action short of a strike.

Which routes will likely be affected by the train strikes?

As well as trains which run into London - such as LNER and Avanti West Coast - five commuter trains companies have voted for strike action, and therefore all of their routes could be affected.

These are:

Chiltern Railways: From West Midlands and Bucks through north-west London (Harrow & Ruislip) to Marylebone.
c2c: Essex through east London (Upminster, Rainham, Barking, Dagenham, West Ham, Limehouse) to Fenchurch Street.
Greater Anglia: From East Anglia through north-east London (Tottenham Hale, Stratford, Romford, Hackney) to Liverpool Street.
South Eastern: From Kent and Sussex through south-east London (Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Croydon, Lambeth) to Victoria, Charing Cross, London Bridge and Cannon Street.
South Western Railway: From the South West through south-west London (Richmond, Wimbledon, Kingston, Sutton, Wandsworth, Clapham Junction) to Waterloo.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch. Credit: RMT

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch. Credit: RMT

What is RMT saying about the train strikes?

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch: "Today’s overwhelming endorsement by railway workers is a vindication of the union’s approach and sends a clear message that members want a decent pay rise, job security and no compulsory redundancies.

"Our NEC will now meet to discuss a timetable for strike action from mid-June, but we sincerely hope ministers will encourage the employers to return to the negotiating table and hammer out a reasonable settlement with the RMT."

What is Network Rail saying about the train strikes?

Network Rail workers have not taken part in a national strike since 1994.

Network Rail’s chief executive Andrew Haines warned "everyone loses if there’s a strike".

He said: "We urge the RMT to sit down with us and continue to talk, not walk, so that we can find a compromise and avoid damaging industrial action."

What is the Department for Transport saying?

The Department for Transport said strikes should always be the last resort not the first.

A spokesperson said: "It is hugely disappointing and premature that the RMT is calling for industrial action before even entering discussions."

London RMT Network Rail Workers