Another rail strike is set to disrupt train journeys this weekend – with further industrial action planned in August.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is taking strike action over pay, jobs, pensions and conditions, while the ASLEF union has announced overtime bans in a dispute over pay.

ASLEF represents drivers, whereas RMT represents members from lots of different sectors within the rail industry – including station staff and guards.

When ASLEF members go on strike, it usually means there are no drivers. When RMT members go on strike, there is widespread disruption to the network with lots of people in different roles going on strike.

Here is everything you need to know:

Rail strike dates

The RMT union has scheduled a further walkout on Saturday 29 July.

Many services will not run at all. Those that do are likely to be very busy, and the timetable will start later and finish earlier than on a non-strike day.

Meanwhile, ASLEF members at 16 rail operators will refuse to work overtime – an action short of a strike – on the following days:

Monday 31 July

Tuesday 1 August

Wednesday 2 August

Thursday 3 August

Friday 4 August

Saturday 5 August

Monday 7 August

Tuesday 8 August

Wednesday 9 August

Thursday 10 August

Friday 11 August

Saturday 12 August

Which train lines are set to be affected?

Avanti West Coast

Avanti West Coast recommend customers check their entire journey before travelling on the RMT strike day, especially the first and last trains.

Late services the night before and early services the next day will also be affected, it said.

It said it plans to run its normal timetable during the ASLEF action.

Customers who booked tickets to travel on strike days before the industrial action was announced can claim a full fee-free refund from their point of purchase.

C2C

On 29 July, all services will run to/from Fenchurch Street station and will not stop at Liverpool Street or Stratford.

It said services will not be affected by the ASLEF strike.

Chiltern Railways

Chiltern Railways said during the ASLEF action, trains will be busier than usual, and there will be changes across the network’s timetable.

It has also advised customers to “check before you travel”.

A very limited service will be operating on 29 July, with one train an hour running to destinations from Marylebone station.

The journey planner is up to date with services for the strike day, it said.

CrossCountry

The train operating company has said during the ASLEF industrial action, “a small number of services may be subject to late-notice cancellation or amendment during this period”.

On 29 July it will be running a limited service.

East Midlands Railway

On 29 July EMR services will run between 7.30am and 6.30pm only.

Services will start later and finish earlier than usual with the last departures starting between 3pm and 4.30pm.

“Only travel by rail if absolutely necessary and if you do travel, expect severe disruption,” the company warned.

Rail, Maritime and Transport union general secretary Mick Lynch (centre) joins members of his union on the picket line outside Euston train station, London, during their long-running dispute over pay. Picture date: Friday June 2, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story INDUSTRY Strikes. Photo credit should read: Lucy North/PA Wire
Image:
RMT leader Mick Lynch (centre) joins members of his union on a picket line on 2 June

Greater Anglia

Services will start at 7am, with all last trains reaching their destination by 11pm.

Most routes will have a “normal or near normal service” during the hours that trains are running, Greater Anglia said.

However some routes will have a limited service and a small number may have no trains at all.

Short notice cancellations may also occur, the company said.

Greater Anglia has said services will start later the day after strikes as a “knock-on” from the walkouts.

Great Western Railway

GWR has said that during the RMT strike, there will be a reduced and revised timetable, and warned many parts of its network “will have no service at all”.

It also said during the ASLEF action “short of a strike and the days after [RMT] strikes, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations”.

Customers are advised to check before they travel.

If you purchase tickets for the strike days but do not end up travelling, you can claim a full refund or amend the ticket.

GTR

GTR, also known as Govia Thameslink Railway, is the UK’s biggest railway franchise and operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.

It said an amended timetable with fewer services will run on 29 July and services will be busier than usual.

Great Northern and Thameslink routes north of London will start later and finish much earlier than normal.

GTR said the disruption from the strike will have a knock-on effect the next day, on 30 July, with some routes having no services before 7am.

LNER

London North Eastern Railway has said that it will be running trains on 29 July but “with a reduced timetable.”

“Our trains for all three [strike] days are back on sale, however, they are still subject to change until timetables are confirmed by Network Rail approximately one week before each strike day,” LNER said on its website.

During the ASLEF union’s industrial action, the network said it would run a normal timetable, but there may also be a possibility of “short-notice alterations and cancellations”.

Southeastern

The company has there will be a limited service running on RMT strike days. Some routes will be closed and there are no replacement buses.

With regards to the ASLEF overtime ban, Southeastern said it expects to run a full service during this time, but if the strike action does impact travel, then passengers can get a strike refund.

South Western Railway

Trains will only run between 7am and 7pm on RMT strike days with a “significantly reduced service”.

“Customers are advised to only travel if absolutely necessary,” the company said.

With regards to the ASLEF action, South Western Railway has released a full timetable of services running on those days.

It added: “Services will usually be reduced to hourly in off-peak periods with a small number of cancellations during the morning and evening peaks. Some first and last trains may also be cancelled.”

Transpennine Express

The company warned the RMT strike will cause “significant disruption”.

“Disruption is also likely on days following strike action and you are advised to plan carefully for any rail journeys as services will start later and finish earlier than usual.”

It has said the planned ASLEF action will have some of its services “start later and finish earlier than usual, and some journeys may be altered late or on the day of travel.”

West Midlands Railway

West Midlands Railway said during the RMT strike, it will be running a reduced timetable on these dates and some routes will not be served.

On ASLEF action days, services will be subject to on-the-day changes.