Train strikes: ASLEF calls for England train drivers' strike. Check dates

Thousands of trains will be canceled and millions of passengers across England will face problems due to disruptions in the rail traffic for a week beginning September 29. Demanding wage hikes and better working conditions, thousands of train drivers belonging to the ASLEF union will go on strike on Saturday 30 September and Wednesday 4 October. Besides, they will not accept overtime on Friday 29 September and from Monday 2 to Friday 6 October, according to reports.

The ASLEF drivers' strike will hit the 14 English train operators who have signed contracts with the government to provide service. If the strike is limited to England, Transport for Wales and ScotRail will remain unaffected.

Govt calls it 'politically motivated'

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has called the strike 'politically motivated.' In an X post, he wrote, "ASLEF’s cynical strikes on 30 Sept & 4 Oct are politically motivated. Train drivers are paid an average of £60k for a 35-hour, 4-day week. There’s an offer on the table to take that up to £65k - and still, they strike, putting their own jobs at risk."

Drivers of these firms will strike

Avanti West Coast
Chiltern Railways
c2c
CrossCountry
East Midlands Railway
Greater Anglia
GTR Great Northern Thameslink
Great Western Railway
Island Line
LNER
Northern Trains
Southeastern
Southern/Gatwick Express
South Western Railway
TransPennine Express
West Midlands Trains

Reason for strike

The ASLEF demands a wage hike linked to a rise in living costs, with the inflation rate coming down to 10% recently.

But the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the 14 train companies has offered a 5% increase in the wage. ASLEF has rejected it.

The rail companies are under pressure to save money after suffering heavy losses due to the pandemic.

How much do drivers get?

According to the Office for National Statistics, the average annual salary of rail workers in 2022 was £45,919. But if the rail cleaning staff are included, the annual median pay for "train and tram drivers" is about £59,000.

FAQs:

Q1. Why will the train drivers in England strike?
A1. The train drivers belonging to the ASLEF have decided to go on strike in support of the demand for a wage hike. They have demanded that the wages should be increased according to the rise in the living costs.

Q2. What the train operators have offered?
A2. The Rail Delivery Group, which represents the 14 train companies, has offered a 5% increase in the wage. ASLEF has rejected it.