Train strikes London: Aslef & RMT announce new strike dates, when are they & what rail companies are affected?

Members from two of the biggest railway unions, Aslef and RMT have announced they will strike in October, with travel in, out and around London set to be heavily disrupted.

Train drivers at 12 companies that operate all over England will be striking on Saturday, 1 October and Wednesday, 5 October.

The companies include Avanti West Coast, LNER and CrossCountry.

Widespread industrial action was due to bring the railways to a near-standstill on Thursday 15 September, Saturday 17 September and Monday 26 September but all three strikes were called off after news broke that Queen Elizabeth II had died.

Which companies will be affected by the strike action?

ASLEF members at 12 companies, including: Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; Greater Anglia; Great Western Railway; Hull Trains; LNER; London Overground; Northern Trains; Southeastern; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains – will strike on 1 and 5 October.

RMT members at the following companies will strike on 1 and 5 October:

• Avanti West Coast
• Chiltern Railways
• CrossCountry
• Greater Anglia
• Great Western Railway
• Hull Trains
• LNER
• London Overground
• Northern Trains
• Southeastern
• TransPennine Express
• West Midlands Trains

Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s general secretary, said: “We would much rather not be in this position. We don’t want to go on strike – withdrawing your labour, although a fundamental human right, is always a last resort for this trade union – but the train companies have been determined to force our hand.

“They are telling train drivers to take a real terms pay cut. With inflation now running at 12.3% – and set, it is said, to go higher – these companies are saying that drivers should be prepared to work just as hard, for just as long, but for considerably less.

“The companies with whom we are in dispute have not offered us a penny. It is outrageous that they expect us to put up with a real terms pay cut for a third year in a row.

“And that’s why we are going on strike. To persuade the companies to be sensible, to do the right thing, and come and negotiate properly with us. Not to run up and say, “Our hands are tied and the government will not allow us to offer you an increase.

“Train drivers kept Britain moving – key workers and goods around the country – throughout the pandemic and we deserve to be treated better than this.

“That’s why we are calling on the companies – which are making big profits, and paying their chief executives enormous salaries and bonuses – to make a pay offer to our members to keep up with the rise in the cost of living.”

Will anything in London be affected?

With the Premier League returning, London clubs are likely to be affected.

One of the companies striking, the London Overground provides travel to people stopping at Highbury & Islington station.

Demand for that exact train is likely to be increased on Saturday, 1 October (a strike date) as Arsenal host Tottenham in the first North London derby of the season.

One of the UK’s biggest marathons, the TCS London Marathon is also scheduled to take place on the 2 October.

People wishing to travel up the day prior are likely to experience difficulty.