Train drivers announce fresh 24-hour strike in January 

The Aslef union announced the new strike claiming they were “pushed” by the train companies in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

The action will cause more travel chaos in the first week of January, with members from the RMT union walking out on 3-4 and 6-7 January.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said it wanted to work with Aslef to end the dispute.

The Aslef general secretary, Mick Whelan, said: “We don’t want to go on strike but the companies have pushed us into this place. They have not offered our members at these companies a penny – and these are people who have not had an increase since April 2019. That means they expect train drivers at these companies to take a real-terms pay cut – to work just as hard for considerably less – when inflation is running at north of 14%.

“The train companies say their hands have been tied by the government. While the government - which does not employ us - says it’s up to the companies to negotiate with us.”

An RDG spokesperson, which represents the train operating companies, said: “Further strikes – on top of those already announced by the RMT – will disrupt the new year travel plans of millions, taking even more money out of the pockets of railway staff.

“Industrial action has already cost the industry millions in lost revenue, and more strikes threaten the industry’s long-term sustainability. No one wants to see this strike go ahead, and we can only apologise to passengers and to the many businesses who will be hit by this damaging disruption.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said Aslef’s decision to strike was “disappointing”.

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"We urge Aslef to rethink, call off strikes and speak to employers to agree a new way forward," they said.

The strike action will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, London North Eastern Railway, Northern, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, South Western Railway (depot drivers only), SWR Island Line, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains.

The rail strikes come at a time of widespread industry walkouts across the country. Thousands of ambulance workers in England and Wales walked out over pay on Wednesday, after nurses went on strike this week and last week.