Britain is set to experience further travel disruptions as 20,000 rail workers prepare for a three-day strike due to an ongoing dispute over pay. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) are planning to walk out at 14 train operators across England after the companies failed to offer a revised pay deal.
This strike action will impact fans attending two Ashes Tests and The Open Championship golf tournament. Additionally, train drivers at 16 rail operators have refused to work overtime for six days in July, posing a threat to travel plans for tennis fans heading to Wimbledon.
When are the upcoming train strikes?
The RMT has announced that 20,000 rail workers, including station staff, train managers, and catering workers, will go on strike on July 20, 22, and 29.
These three days of strikes will have an impact on cricket fans traveling to the fourth and fifth Ashes Tests. The fourth Test is scheduled to take place at Old Trafford in Manchester from July 19 to July 23, while the fifth Test in London runs from July 27 to July 31.
The strikes will also coincide with The Open Championship, held from July 20 to July 23 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
Meanwhile, the overtime ban for Aslef train drivers, which could result in last-minute cancellations, will be enforced for six days, from July 3 to July 8.
These industrial actions align with the first week of the Wimbledon tournament, commencing on July 3.
In May, previous strikes by the RMT and Aslef caused havoc for rail passengers, affecting events such as the FA Cup final at Wembley, the Epsom Derby, Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” world tour concert at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Eurovision final in Liverpool.
Which rail companies will be affected?
The RMT members will strike at 14 rail companies, including:
- Avanti West Coast
- C2C
- Chiltern Railways
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- GTR (includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern, and Gatwick Express)
- Great Western Railway
- Greater Anglia (includes Stansted Express)
- LNER
- Northern Trains
- Southeastern
- South Western Railway
- TransPennine Express
- West Midlands Trains
- GTR operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern, and Gatwick Express.
The level of disruption caused by the Aslef overtime ban will vary among different operators. The affected train companies include:
- Avanti West Coast
- Chiltern Railways
- Cross Country
- East Midlands Railway
- Greater Anglia
- GWR
- GTR Great Northern Thameslink
- Island Line
- LNER
- Northern Trains
- Southeastern
- Southern
- Gatwick Express
- South Western Railway main line
- SWR depot drivers
- TransPennine Express
- West Midlands Trains
Advice for traveling during the train strikes
National Rail advises passengers to anticipate “significant disruption” on strike days. Services are also likely to be delayed and start later on the following day.
National Rail recommends that passengers:
- Use the Journey Planner, checking close to each strike date for updates
- Refer to the Live Trains page for real-time information on arrivals and departures
- Plan their journeys in advance and check for any changes, especially if traveling on the first and last trains during strike days
Why are 20,000 rail workers going on strike again?
The RMT has accused train operators of failing to present a new pay offer to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch stated, “My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train operating companies and government ministers. Yet, surprisingly, neither party has made any effort to arrange meetings or put forward a reasonable offer that can help us reach a negotiated solution.”
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