London train and Tube strikes July 2023: Full list of dates and disruption this week

Londoners are set to face a new wave of travel disruption this week as two rail unions take industrial action.

Aslef train drivers have started a further overtime ban this week, while RMT members will walkout on Thursday and Saturday July 20 and 22.

The action is part of a long running row over pensions, job cuts and working conditions.

Passengers are being asked to check before they travel as some services will be disrupted.

When is the Aslef overtime ban taking place?

Members of Aslef, the train drivers union, are refusing to work overtime from Monday July 17 to Saturday July 22.

This follows another week long overtime ban from July 3 to 8.

Most train companies rely on drivers working overtime to run their full schedules.

Passengers at 15 train companies across the country will be affected.

In London, commuters on Chiltern, Greater Anglia, GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink), Southeastern and South Western Railway (including the Island Line) will be impacted by the industrial action.

When are the RMT strikes taking place?

RMT members working across 14 train operating companies will take strike action on Thursday July 20, Saturday July 22 and Saturday July 29.

20,000 rail workers from 14 train companies will be taking part in the action. The companies affected are:

• Avanti West Coast
• C2C
• Chiltern Railways
• CrossCountry
• East Midlands Railway
• GTR
• Great Western Railway
• Greater Anglia
• LNER
• Northern Trains
• Southeastern
• South Western Railway
• TransPennine Express
• West Midlands Trains
• GTR operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.
• Greater Anglia includes Stansted Express.

What about the Tube strikes?

London Underground workers at three unions will strike from Sunday July 23 until Friday July 28 in a long-running dispute about pensions, job cuts and working conditions:

July 23 to 28: Members of the RMT will walk out although the union has not yet confirmed which groups of workers will strike on which days, nor whether the action will last for a solid six days.

July 26 and 28: Aslef drivers will go on strike.

July 26 and 28: Members of the Unite union who work in engineering, maintenance and management roles will go on strike.

Advice for customers

A number of train lines have asked customers to check before they travel this week and some have created revised timetables for the overtime ban.

During the RMT train strikes on Thursday and Saturday many railways are operating limited opening hours with some stations not being served at all.

Passengers are being asked to check National Rail before they travel.

What is Aslef saying?

General secretary Mick Whelan said:“Train drivers don’t want to be inconveniencing the public. We want to resolve this dispute.

“We have given the government and rail operators plenty of opportunities to come to the table but it remains clear that they do not want a resolution.

“Our members - the drivers who keep the railway running day in, day out - will not accept the government’s attempts to force our industry into decline. Rail travel is a vital part of the fight against climate change. Rail connectivity is essential to the country’s economy.

“It’s time for a fair deal and a resolution so we can grow our railway and improve it for the future.”

What is the RMT saying?

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "This latest phase of action will show the country just how important railway staff are to the running of the rail industry.

"My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train operating companies and government ministers.

"Yet quite incredibly neither party has made any attempt whatsoever to arrange any meetings or put forward a decent offer that can help us reach a negotiated solution.

"The government continues to shackle the companies and will not allow them to put forward a package that can settle this dispute.

What is the government saying?

A Department for Transport spokesperson said this week: “The government has played its part to try and end this dispute by facilitating a fair and reasonable pay offer that would see train drivers’ already high salaries increase from an average of £60,000 to £65,000.

“Union leaders have repeatedly denied members a chance to vote on this generous offer that would give them a chance to end these damaging strikes. We once again urge them to do the right thing and put it to their members.”