Train strikes 2023 London: ASLEF union new wave of December strikes - list of dates and train companies

Train drivers are set to stage a fresh wave of strikes next month as part of their long running dispute over pay.

ASLEF, the train drivers' union, has announced a “rolling programme” of walkouts between December 2 and 8, impacting different train companies on each day.

Drivers will also refuse to work overtime from December 1 to 9 as part of the industrial action.

The union said the new walkouts will put pressure on train companies and the government to give train drivers their first pay rise in more than four years.

Which train company will be affected on what day?

Saturday December 2: East Midlands Railway and LNER

Sunday December 3: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, Great Northern Thameslink, and West Midlands Trains

Tuesday December 5: C2C and Greater Anglia

Wednesday December 6: Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, SWR main line, SWR depot drivers, and Island Line

Thursday December 7: CrossCountry and GWR

Friday December 8: Northern and TPT

Services are expected to be cancelled on strike days, causing disruption for passengers.

What is Aslef saying?

"We are determined to win this dispute," said Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary. ‘And get a significant pay rise for train drivers who have not had an increase since 2019 while the cost of living, in that time, has soared.

He criticised transport secretary Mark Harper as having "gone missing in action during this dispute", adding: "We are determined to win this dispute.

"What the minister apparently fails to understand is that, since the Rail Delivery Group's (RDG) risible offer in April, we have received overwhelming mandates, on enormous turnouts, for more industrial action.

"Our members have spoken and we know what they think. Every time they vote - and they have voted overwhelmingly - for strike action in pursuit of a proper pay rise it is a clear rejection of the offer that was made in April.

"The RDG's offer, a land grab for all our terms and conditions, was made in the full knowledge that it couldn't, and wouldn't, be accepted."

Aslef said it has successfully struck pay deals with 14 companies in the last 12 months, including freight firms, open-access operators, Eurostar, and passenger companies in Scotland and Wales, where transport issues are devolved. The union says it has been unable to do a deal with the 16 train operating companies in England controlled by the government.

“This is a dispute in England made at Westminster by the Tory government,” Mr Whelan said. “We will continue to take industrial action until the train companies, and/or the government, sits down and negotiates with us in good faith.”

ASLEF started its industrial action in July 2022 and train drivers have had 14 one-day strikes so far.

Rail Delivery Group

A spokesperson for the RDG said: “This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the ASLEF leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses ahead of the vital festive period, while further damaging the railway at a time when it is still getting an extra £175m a month in taxpayer cash.

“The fair and affordable offer made by industry, which would take average driver base salaries for a 4-day week from £60,000 to nearly £65,000, remains on the table. We urge the ASLEF leadership to put it to its members, give Christmas back to our passengers, and end this damaging industrial dispute."

What is the government saying?

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that Aslef are targeting the public and hospitality businesses at the beginning of the festive period, when there is a fair and reasonable pay offer for train drivers on the table that would take their salary up to an average of £65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.

“Taxpayers contributed £1000 per household to protect train drivers’ jobs during the pandemic. Instead of going on strike, Aslef should be following in the footsteps of the other rail unions and giving their members a vote on this fair pay deal.”