How rail strikes will affect Greater Anglia, c2c and Elizabeth Line …
Train services are being hit by even more strike action later this week. Rail users were affected by a change in schedule on Wednesday as members of the Aslef union walked out, while workers in the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are set to strike on Friday (June 2).
The brunt of the strike action will be felt on Saturday, however, when Aslef members will once again walk out, causing major disruption to hundreds of thousands of people hoping to travel to major events such as the FA Cup final and the Epsom Derby.
Many fans attending Beyonce’s Renaissance world tour concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the England v Ireland cricket match at Lord’s – both in London – will also be affected by the walkout.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said around 40% of trains are running on Aslef strike days, with wide regional variations. On the RMT strike day on Friday, around 50% of normal services will run. Aslef also starts an overtime ban on Thursday that could cause disruption, especially in and out of London.
The unions say they have not been given a pay offer they can recommend to their members.- Officials say support for industrial action remains strong among workers as well as the public. Aslef says train drivers have not had a pay rise for four years.
Both unions claim the Government is preventing the train companies making an acceptable offer, which ministers deny.
A DfT spokesperson said: “These strikes have been co-ordinated by union leaders to disrupt passengers in a week which will see major events such as the first-ever all-Manchester FA Cup final, the Epsom Derby and a number of concerts and festivals across the UK.
“Not content with impacting the hundreds of thousands of people who have looked forward to these events all year round, unions are also targeting their own members’ pockets by forcing them to miss out on pay every time they strike. The Government has facilitated a fair and reasonable pay offer, now union leaders must do the right thing and put this to their members.”
c2c train changes this week
Friday: No major impact but 12-carriage trains will not stop at Limehouse, east London.
Saturday: Usual timetable.
Elizabeth Line train changes this week
Friday: The Elizabeth line is not involved in the industrial dispute with the RMT but there will be some alterations to its services. These include no trains between Maidenhead and Reading before 7am or after 7pm, and no trains between Brentwood and Shenfield from 11.30pm.
Saturday: Usual timetable.
Greater Anglia train changes this week
Friday: Trains will run between 7am and 11pm. Some routes will have a reduced frequency, but most will have a normal or near-normal service.
Saturday: A reduced service will run and only from 7am, with last trains earlier than normal. Most routes will be closed, including between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge.
Stansted Express train changes this week
Friday: Services will not start until after 7am.
Saturday: Frequencies will be halved to one train per hour in each direction.