What today’s train strike means for the Elizabeth Line, London …

Rail passengers are facing a fresh bout of travel chaos[1] this weekend because of the latest train strikes[2] held by unions as part of long-running disputes[3].

Services were crippled on Friday 1 September[4] when drivers from the Aslef union walked out[5], leaving large areas of England with no trains all day.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT)[6] at 14 train operating companies will then strike[7] on Saturday 2 September[8], while Aslef will ban overtime for drivers, exacerbating the problems.

Trains are expected to be severely affected around the country, with services starting later and finishing earlier than usual – but what does it mean for travel in London[9]?

Is the Elizabeth Line running during the train strikes?

According to official guidance from Transport for London (TfL), there is no disruption to the Elizabeth Line, the London Overground or Tube services during the Aslef strike on Friday 1 September.

However, the RMT walkout on Saturday 2 September will have slightly more of an impact, although most services will be running as usual.

On the Elizabeth Line, there will be no services to Brentwood and Shenfield after 11.30pm – trains will instead terminate at Brentwood or Gidea Park.

There will also be no services to Paddington, Reading or Twyford before 7am and after 7pm – these services will not resume until after 7am on Sunday 3 September.

There will be no disruption to the London Overground on Saturday or Sunday.

On the London Underground, there will be no District Line services between Wimbledon and Wimbledon Park before 7am on Saturday, or before 7.30am on Sunday.

The Marylebone Tube station will also close at 11.50pm on Saturday.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: An Elizabeth Line sign is seen outside Bond Street Crossrail on October 24, 2022 in London, England. Bond Street is the final Elizabeth line station to open. It will provide a new link to one of the busiest shopping districts in the UK with entrances at Hanover Square and Davies Street. (Photo by Isabel Infantes/Getty Images) There will be some disruption to the Elizabeth Line on Saturday (Photo: Getty Images)

Are trains running during the rail strikes?

During both the Aslef and RMT strikes, some operators will be unable to run any trains, while others will offer a significantly reduced service.

You can see full information for each operating company involved in the walkouts below:

Commuters look at the departures board at the Waterloo train station in London on September 1, 2023 as train drivers strike over pay. Strikes over pay have hit many sectors of the British economy over the past year with medical workers among those joining picket lines amid the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) Train services have been significantly reduced by the rail strikes (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Why are the train strikes happening?

Both Aslef and the RMT are embroiled in disputes over pay, jobs and conditions which have been going on for over a year[10].

Speaking at a picket line at Euston on Friday, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan told the PA news agency: “The feedback we get – and we talk to drivers every day – is that they’re in it for the long haul.

“You’ve got to remember some of our members, when we get to the end of this year, will be five years without a pay rise, so there’s no sign of any weakening or any lack of resolve, and our members in many cases want to go harder and faster.”

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Is there a train strike today? September rail strikes list and if trains are running on Friday 1 September

He said he does not currently see an end point to the dispute, adding: “This is purely a political response to the dispute. Only when the ministers take the reins off the train operating companies will this get resolved.”

Robert Nisbet, spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) – which represents train operators – said Aslef must show “movement” on changes to working practices.

Asked why no talks have been held between the RDG and Aslef since April, Mr Nisbet told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Because they will not accept that core principle.”

The RMT said it has received a reply from the Rail Delivery Group to a “road-map” it had suggested last month to break the deadlock.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: “After a week, the RDG has formally responded to our initiative to try and reach a negotiated settlement to the national dispute.

“While it is encouraging that the train operating companies want to continue dialogue with us next week, a fresh proposal will be needed to progress this dispute towards a settlement.

“Their most recent proposal has been rejected and we will have to try and see if we can find a way forward.

“Our strike action remains on this Saturday and our industrial campaign will continue until we reach a negotiated settlement on working conditions, job security and pay.”

Additional reporting from Press Association

References

  1. ^ facing a fresh bout of travel chaos (inews.co.uk)
  2. ^ the latest train strikes (inews.co.uk)
  3. ^ part of long-running disputes (inews.co.uk)
  4. ^ crippled on Friday 1 September (inews.co.uk)
  5. ^ drivers from the Aslef union walked out (inews.co.uk)
  6. ^ the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) (inews.co.uk)
  7. ^ strike (inews.co.uk)
  8. ^ Saturday 2 September (inews.co.uk)
  9. ^ what does it mean for travel in London (inews.co.uk)
  10. ^ going on for over a year (inews.co.uk)

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