Train strike announced by rail drivers after New Year

ASLEF says train drivers are being asked to take a real-term pay cut

Aslef last staged a walkout in November (Getty Images)

A fresh rail strike has been announced by train drivers at 15 companies several days after New Year.

The walkout will take place on 5 January in a long-running dispute over pay, union ASLEF said.

Rail workers at another union are also planning to walkout over the Christmas period and into the New Year.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network Rail and 14 train operators are planning to strike on 3, 4, 6 and 7 January.

The new strike action on the 5 January paves the way for week-long disruption.

“We don’t want to go on strike but the companies have pushed us into this place,” ASLEF general secretary, Mick Whelan, said.

“They have not offered our members at these companies a penny – and these are people who have not had an increase since April 2019.”

The union represents 96 per cent of the train drivers in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Workers at 15 companies - including Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway and Great Western Railway - voted to strike in the new action after New Year.

Mr Whelan said workers were being asked to take a real-term pay cut as inflation continues to soar.

“The companies need to come to the table with a proper proposal to help our members, their drivers, buy this year what they could buy last year. That is the way to prevent another strike and all the disruption that causes,” he said.

“The ball is now firmly in the train companies’ court. And we are calling on the government to help – and not hinder – the negotiating process.”

The last strike by ASLEF was in late November.

Workers in other areas - including in the NHS, education, Border Force and airports - are also planning on striking in the coming days and weeks.

Nurses are staging their second walkout in days on Tuesday, while ambulance workers are set to strike on Wednesday.

Train drivers at the following companies have voted to strike in the ASLEF action:

• Avanti West Coast
• Chiltern Railways
• CrossCountry
• East Midlands Railway
• Great Western Railway
• Greater Anglia
• GTR Great Northern Thameslink
• London North Eastern Railway
• Northern Trains; Southeastern
• Southern/Gatwick Express
• South Western Railway (depot drivers only)
• SWR Island Line
• TransPennine Express
• West Midlands Trains