Disputes between trade unions and train companies in the UK have now been dragging on for nearly three years, with rail workers taking action to protest poor pay and working conditions. But while train strikes are officially over for much of the UK after ASLEF negotiated a pay deal, some strikes have since been called for select services for an extended period.
The most recent bout of strikes have been called by ASLEF on Hull Trains, which are in response to a colleague being ‘unfairly sacked’. These will start at the beginning of March and last until the end of April. RMT train managers on Avanti West Coast services announced new strikes back in December, and they’ve already begun. That period of action started on New Year’s Eve and will continue all the way to May 2025.
As for nationwide strikes? Following the last bout of ASLEF strikes in May 2024 – quite some time ago, at this point, and which saw train drivers at 16 operators across the UK walk out over three days – no further action has been called for British train services.
Here’s everything you need to know about upcoming industrial action on the UK’s rail network.
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When are the next train strike dates?
Avanti West Coast strikes started on New Year’s Eve and continued on January 2, and they’ll take place every Sunday between January 12 and May 25.
The Hull Trains strikes will begin on March 7 and finish on April 26, taking place every Friday and Saturday.
On a nationwide level, there are no future strikes planned for now.
What train lines will be affected?
Avanti West Coast services are the only ones impacted by that strike, and Hull Trains services will only be impacted by those strikes.
When workers go on a nationwide strike, these are the lines that are typically impacted.
- Avanti West Coast
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- Great Western Railway
- LNER
- TransPennine Express
- C2C
- Greater Anglia
- GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink)
- Southeastern
- South Western Railway
- Chiltern Railways
- Northern Trains
- West Midlands Railway
How will rail travel be affected by the strikes?
On the Sundays of Avanti West Coast strikes, the operator has said that timetables and operating hours will be ‘significantly reduced’, and that the trains that do run will be busy.
Hull Trains says customers should not be concerned about disruption ‘at this time’. Watch out for service updates nearer the strike dates.
During nationwide strikes, rail travel typically comes to a standstill all over the country. You can find out more about how services are affected on the National Rail website.
Often, disruption isn’t just on the day of a strike. There is usually also an impact on services in the afternoon and evening on the day before each strike, as well as on the morning of the day after. This is because trains and drivers are out of their planned positions as a result of the strikes.
Do workers get paid when on strike?
UK law states that employers do not have to pay employees who take part in industrial action. However, some unions keep some money aside to issue strikers with ‘strike pay’ while they occupy picket lines. For example, the RMT has the National Dispute Fund, which is supported by union membership payments as well as donations from members of the public.
When will the rail strikes end?
Rail strikes will end not just when a pay deal is struck between the unions and government: the union members also have to vote to approve the deal.
Why are rail workers striking?
Avanti West Coast workers are walking out over working practices and working on rest days, while Hull Trains workers are protesting what they say is the unfair dismissal of a colleague who raised safety concerns.
What’s the deal with working practices?
Due to changes in travelling habits following the pandemic, with fewer commuters and off-peak train travel, some bosses want to change previous ‘archaic’ working practices and to introduce new technology and run teams more efficiently. Unions fear this may lead to job cuts, and it’s one of the most contentious issues in the dispute.
Can I get a refund if my train is cancelled?
According to National Rail, if your train is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled due to the industrial action, you will:
• Be entitled to a change or refund from the original retailer of your ticket
• Be able to use your ticket with another train company or an alternative route if it is available
Is the Eurostar affected by the train strikes?
Eurostar has said that strikes will not affect its timetable. However, if you’re getting a connecting journey within the UK, make sure that you check whether it is still running before you leave and allow extra time when travelling to and from London on strike days.
What do rail chiefs and unions have to say about the strikes?
Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s general secretary, said of the situation at Hull Trains: ‘The company’s failure to act responsibly has impacts not just for rail workers and passengers at Hull Trains but right across the wider rail industry.
‘We have a culture on the railway designed to keep everyone safe. Anyone who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fearing they will be penalised, punished, or lose their livelihood.’
An RMT spokesperson said about the Avanti West Coast strikes: ‘Our members have resoundingly rejected Avanti’s latest offers in two referendums and sustained strike action is now the only way to focus management’s minds on reaching a negotiated settlement with the union.’
A spokesperson for the union also said: ‘It is wholly unacceptable that replacement managers can be paid around £500 per shift, about double what our Avanti members earn
‘At the heart of the problem is a serious staff shortage, which is why there's such a heavy reliance on overtime in the first place," they added.’
Are there any other strikes to be aware of?
There are indeed. Heathrow was hit by strikes, and lots of industrial action is taking place in airports across Europe.
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