What train strikes are on today? All the UK services affected by Aslef strike
The members of Aslef have gone on strike for the third time in four days because of an unresolved issue over their pay. (Picture: PA)
Several of the most frequently used train routes in the United Kingdom will be affected by a continued strike by train operators on Monday, April 8th.
Train drivers represented by Aslef union are continuing their strike for the third time in four days in protest over pay, leading to widespread disruption to train operations.
Passengers who travel into London on their daily commute will face disruptions on Monday. Additionally, those utilizing services in the regions of East Anglia and the South East will also be impacted.
The train strike scheduled for Monday will impact the subsequent train corporations:
The South Western Railway has announced that for some lines, there will be fewer available services, and the majority of their network will be shut down. Trains will solely be in operation from 7am to 7pm.
According to Southern, there won't be any train services operating on most of its network. However, there will be a restricted shuttle service that will run continuously between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.
No Thameslink trains will operate, except for a restricted shuttle service that stops at Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, and London St Pancras. Additionally, a limited express shuttle service runs directly between London Kings Cross and Cambridge.
Great Northern and Gatwick Express trains won't run. Still, Southern will continue to offer a limited direct shuttle service to Gatwick Airport.
Southeastern has announced that the majority of its routes and stations will not be operational. Although there will be a minimal service running, customers are strongly discouraged from travelling.
According to the announcement, if you decide to travel, you should anticipate significant interference, make arrangements in advance, and allocate extra time to your journey.
Due to the limited service, the trains currently in operation will be highly congested, with their operating hours starting later and ending earlier. It is possible that there may be some stations where it won't be possible to board the trains, and it is predicted that queues as long as two hours may ensue because of the aforementioned circumstances.
"Out of the 165 stations in Southeastern, only 29 will be operational. If a station is closed, there won't be any substitute buses available for rail transportation."
There will be no trains operating on Monday that follow the c2c route.
The managing director of c2c, Rob Mullen, expressed his disappointment that they were not able to come to an understanding with Aslef.
The continuous effort being made has a big effect on both our clients and staff members.
I am optimistic that upcoming discussions with the unions will be fruitful and lead to advancements in bringing an end to this difficult period for the railway.
Greater Anglia announced that their initial train services will commence later than usual, while the final train schedules will conclude earlier than usual. However, the Stansted Express is excluded from this change.
The Greater Anglia routes will have trains operating every hour.
Traveling to Norwich or Colchester from London Liverpool Street If you're planning a trip to either Norwich or Colchester, your starting point will be London Liverpool Street. Luckily, both destinations are easily accessible by train from this central London station. To get to Norwich, you'll need to catch a train from platform 10 or 11. There are both direct and indirect services available, with journey times ranging from just over 1 hour to around 2 hours. Norwich is a historic and vibrant city with plenty to see and do, so it's definitely worth a visit if you have the chance. Colchester, on the other hand, is located in Essex and is also easily accessible from London Liverpool Street. You'll need to catch a train from either platform 5 or 6, and journey times range from around 45 minutes to just over an hour. Colchester is a historic town with a rich Roman history, as well as plenty of modern attractions to explore. Regardless of which destination you choose, both Norwich and Colchester are great options for a day trip or weekend away from London. So grab your train tickets and get ready to explore!
are connected by a railway line that runs through the heart of Essex. The journey takes approximately one hour and passes through a number of beautiful towns and villages along the way. Once in London, passengers have easy access to a wide range of destinations via the city's extensive transport network. For those travelling to the capital for work or leisure, the Southend to London train service provides a convenient and cost-effective option. So why not leave the car at home and enjoy a stress-free journey to the big city?
Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street are two important transportation hubs in England. Stansted Airport is located in Essex and is known for its low cost flights to various destinations in Europe, while London Liverpool Street is a major railway station in the heart of the city of London. Both Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street offer convenient access to other parts of England and beyond. Stansted Airport is well-connected to the rest of the UK via the M11 motorway, while London Liverpool Street has excellent links to other parts of the city via the London Underground and buses. For travelers, Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street are ideal starting points for exploring the rest of England and Europe. From Stansted Airport, you can easily reach popular destinations such as Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, and Barcelona. From London Liverpool Street, you can catch trains to cities such as Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich, and even Edinburgh. Overall, if you are looking for efficient and affordable transportation options in England, Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street should definitely be on your list of places to visit.
There will be a train available every two hours that travels between Cambridge and London.
There will be no Greater Anglia services running on any routes other than the ones currently in operation.
Workers who are part of Aslef have decided to prohibit overtime on the dates of April 8th and 9th (Monday and Tuesday) across 16 different train companies. This action will have negative effects on services provided by these companies.
Today (April 8), Aslef driver strikes will impact nine train companies as reported by News Shopper.
Aslef driver strikes are expected to impact nine train companies today (April 8th). (Picture: PA)
National Express has included numerous further spots throughout its coach network throughout the United Kingdom.
During the strike weekend, the coach company anticipated an increase of more than 13% in the number of passengers. To cater to the needs of the customers, they included nearly 100 additional coach trips on the commonly traveled routes.
What's Behind The Train Strike?
Aslef is currently involved in a dispute regarding their pay that has been ongoing for almost two years. Despite efforts, there has been no progress made towards a resolution and discussions are not scheduled to take place at this time.
According to the union, the industry has suffered a loss of over £2 billion due to the ongoing disagreement, which could have been resolved with much less expense.
Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, stated that the members of Aslef are still supporting the industrial action. He also expressed disapproval towards the Government and rail companies for not keeping in touch in the past year.
April 2024 will witness fresh dates of rail strikes: on which days will the impact be felt?
Here are some useful suggestions to assist you in locating the most cost-effective train ticket: 1. Book in advance: Booking your train tickets before the date of travel can save you a significant amount of money. 2. Be flexible: You can look for different travel dates to get the best deals on train tickets. 3. Avoid peak times: Traveling outside of peak hours can help you save cash on train fares. 4. Use railcards: Railcards offer discounts on train tickets which can save you a significant amount of money. 5. Check for group discounts: If you are traveling as a group, look for group deals on train tickets. 6. Avoid booking fees: Some platforms charge additional fees for booking train tickets, so check beforehand if you're required to pay a booking fee. 7. Hunt for deals: Various online resources offer train ticket discounts. Keep an eye out for these. 8. Search for split tickets: You may be able to save cash by purchasing tickets for separate segments of your journey. 9. Switch to slower trains: Slower trains can be less expensive compared to faster trains. 10. Subscribe for newsletters: Rail companies occasionally offer discounts on train tickets through their newsletters. Subscribing is easy. 11. Purchase multiple tickets: Splitting your journey, rather than buying a single ticket, may be less expensive. 12. Take advantage of cashback: Some platforms offer cashback rewards for purchasing train tickets online, so check if this is available to you.
Last year, the Government proposed a new legislation that is designed to ensure that a certain level of service is maintained during strikes. However, all of the railway companies have chosen not to adopt it.
A representative from the Department of Transport stated: "Out of all the railway unions, Aslef is the only one that is still going on strike, causing trouble for commuters and not allowing their own members to vote on the available compensation proposal."
The Transport Secretary and rail minister have put forth a salary increase for train drivers. This offer covers any disagreements settled with other rail unions. The new proposal will raise drivers’ average salaries from £60,000 to £65,000.
