Kent stations at risk of seeing no trains this month as new strikes announced

Stations across Kent are at risk of seeing no trains at the end of the month as another day of strike action has been announced. Members of the ASLEF union will be hosting walkouts between Tuesday, January 30 and Monday, February 5.

The union has confirmed that strike action will take place across the Southeastern[1], Southern and Thameslink networks which serve Kent on Tuesday, January 30. Should this go ahead, the strike will likely cause large-scale disruption for rail travel across the county as during previous ASLEF strikes no trains have been able to run across Kent at all.

This is because ASLEF is the union that represents the nation’s train drivers, meaning Kent could once again be left without any services on this date. A spokesperson for Southeastern has said: “Strike action by the ASLEF union is due to take place across our network on Tuesday 30 January. We’re working to understand what that means for your journey and will update you as soon as we can on our website.”

This latest batch of strikes comes as disputes over pay and working conditions for rail staff continue. ASLEF’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We have given the government every opportunity to come to the table but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It's clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.

"Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living. Train drivers didn't even ask for an increase during the Covid-19 pandemic when they worked throughout as keyworkers, risking their lives to allow NHS and other workers to travel.”

Union members will also be taking part in an overtime ban between Monday, January 29 and Tuesday, February 6. Previously, Southeastern has been able to operate a full service during past overtime bans. Southeastern has confirmed that full ticketing and refund information will be announced closer to the time.

Kent stations at risk of seeing no trains on Tuesday, January 30

With the strike looking to go ahead, impacting Southeastern, Thameslink and Southern services, the following Kent stations could be left with no trains at all on Tuesday, January 30:

  • Adisham

  • Appledore

  • Ashford International

  • Ashurst

  • Aylesford

  • Aylesham

  • Barming

  • Bat and Ball

  • Bearstead

  • Bekesbourne

  • Beltring

  • Birchington-on-Sea

  • Borough Green and Wrotham

  • Broadstairs

  • Canterbury East

  • Canterbury West

  • Charing

  • Chartham

  • Chatham

  • Chestfiled & Swalecliffe

  • Chilham

  • Cowden

  • Cuxton

  • Dartford

  • Deal

  • Dover Priory

  • Dumpton Park

  • Dunton Green

  • East Farleigh

  • East Malling

  • Ebbsfleet International

  • Edenbridge

  • Edenbridge Town

  • Eynsford

  • Farningham Road

  • Faversham

  • Folkestone Central and West

  • Gillingham

  • Gravesend

  • Greenhithe

  • Halling

  • Ham Street

  • Harrietsham

  • Headcorn

  • Herne Bay

  • Hever

  • High Brooms

  • Higham

  • Hildenborough

  • Hollingbourne

  • Kearsney

  • Kemsing

  • Kemsley

  • Knockholt

  • Leigh

  • Lenham

  • Longfield

  • Maidstone Barracks

  • Maidstone East and West

  • Marden

  • Margate

  • Martin Mill

  • Meopham

  • Minster

  • New Hythe

  • Newington

  • Northfleet

  • Otford

  • Paddock Wood

  • Penshurst

  • Pluckley

  • Queenborough

  • Rainham

  • Ramsgate

  • Rochester

  • Sandling

  • Sandwich

  • Selling

  • Sevenoaks

  • Sheerness-on-Sea

  • Shepherds Well

  • Shoreham

  • Sittingbourne

  • Snodland

  • Snowdown

  • Sole Street

  • Staplehurst

  • Strood

  • Stone Crossing

  • Sturry

  • Swale

  • Swanley

  • Swanscombe

  • Teynham

  • Thanet Parkway

  • Tonbridge

  • Tunbridge Wells

  • Walmer

  • Wateringbury

  • Westenhanger

  • Westgate-on-Sea

  • West Malling

  • Whitstable

  • Wye

  • Yalding

Keep up to date with the latest rail travel and strike newswith our FREE traffic and travel email for KentLive readers. Find out more here.[4]

References

  1. ^ Southeastern (www.kentlive.news)
  2. ^ M20 road overnight closures this week as M2 and A2 works continue (www.kentlive.news)
  3. ^ Decision on scrapping Tunbridge Wells traffic ban and waiving fines to be made (www.kentlive.news)
  4. ^ Find out more here. (www.kentlive.news)

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