Half of train services axed while 20,000 rail workers go on strike

Fresh rail strikes have forced 19 train lines across the UK to cancel at least half of all services on Friday, with more disruption in store on Saturday.

More than 20,000 rail workers are staging a 24-hour walkout as part of long-running disputes with operators.

Members of the Aslef and RMT union launched the industrial action with strikes on Wednesday but the most severe disruption is expected amid the latest wave.

Most of the affected lines will be running, but with heavily reduced timetables and, in some areas, stations will be closed.

Rail bosses say the country’s network will be running at roughly 50% capacity as a result.

The figure drops to 40% for Saturday, as many operators will close their lines completely.

Striking RMT members include many of the country’s train managers, catering and station staff, while Aslef’s members include train drivers.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan warned there is ‘no waning in enthusiasm’ from train drivers to continue taking industrial action.

He said: ‘We are determined to get a resolution and remain in this for the long haul.

‘It is time for the Government to step back from interference which is preventing a deal – drivers, in line with other workers, deserve a pay rise after four years without one and inflation running, over the last 12 months, north of 10%.’

The Rail Delivery Group said strikes are ‘causing disappointment and frustration for tens of thousands of people’, including ‘families who have been looking forward and have planned their half-term holidays’.

The workers on strike are all employed by operators based in England.

But some of their services continue into Wales and Scotland, so passengers all over Britain will be affected.

Which operators will be affected and how?

Avanti West Coast: Services start later and finishing earlier on Friday, with delays on some lines. No services on any routes on Saturday.

Chiltern Railways: ‘Very limited’ service and partial line closures on Friday, with bosses urging passengers only to make ‘essential’ journeys. No trains running on Saturday.

C2c: The operator says it ‘will not be greatly impacted’ by the strikes. Longer trains will not stop at Limehouse on Friday; full service on Saturday.

CrossCountry: Limited service on Friday, with some lines also continuing to be affected by engineering works. No service on Saturday.

East Midlands Railway: On Friday, services are ‘significantly reduced’ and are starting later and ending earlier than usual. No trains on Saturday.

Great Northern: Limited service on Friday, with some stations not being served. No trains on Saturday.

GWR: On Friday, parts of the network are running an ‘extremely reduced service’, starting later and ending earlier, while others will have no service at all.

Operators have not yet announced how Saturday’s disruption will affect services.

Greater Anglia: On Friday, most routes will have a ‘normal or near normal service’, with slightly reduced hours, though three routes are not running.

On Saturday, most routes will have no service, while the rest have a limited service on reduced hours.

LNER: Services are running on Friday but will end much earlier, meaning they will be ‘extremely busy’, the operator says.

Reduced service on Saturday, with no trains continuing to nine stations off the main line or Aberdeen on the main line.

London Northwestern: On Friday, some routes have been axed while others are running limited services. No services at all on Saturday.

Northern: On Friday, limited service on eight routes and no service on the others. On Saturday, no services at all.

South Western Railway: ‘Severely reduced service’ on limited hours on Friday, with customers urged only to travel ‘if absolutely necessary’.

On Saturday, reduced services on all lines except the Island Line, which will be closed.

Southeastern: Limited service on Friday, with around a third of the network closed. No trains on Saturday, and no replacement buses either.

Southern: Limited service on Friday which started later and will end sooner, and no trains on Saturday.

Thameslink: Limited service, with some ending earlier than normal, and some stations will not be served. No trains on Saturday.

TransPennine Express: Severely limited services on three lines on Friday, and no services on Saturday.

West Midlands: Reduced services on a limited timetable on Friday, no trains Saturday.

Heathrow Express: Normal service Friday, no trains on Saturday.

Stansted Express: Limited service on Friday, starting considerably later and ending slightly earlier. Limited service on slightly reduced hours on Saturday.

Gatwick Express: No trains on Friday or Saturday, but people travelling on Friday can use limited services from Southern or Thameslink on the same line.

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