Published: 2024-01-15 by, News Team in the Traffic & Travel news category

South Western Railway Strike to Hit Chiswick Station

A recent announcement has revealed a new wave of strikes, intensifying the ongoing pay dispute between Aslef, the train drivers' union, and 16 UK train companies. Scheduled from Tuesday, January 30, to Monday, February 5, the industrial action will result in daily disruptions for various operators.

As part of the protest, Aslef-affiliated train drivers will abstain from overtime work from January 29 to February 6. If the strikes proceed, it will mark the third consecutive year of industrial action.

The strike schedule delineates the affected train companies on each designated day:

Tuesday, January 30: Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Thameslink, South Western Railway, and SWR Island Line
Wednesday, January 31: Northern Trains, Transpennine Express
Friday, February 2: Greater Anglia, C2C, LNER
Saturday, February 3: West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway
Monday, February 5: Great Western, CrossCountry, Chiltern
Operators unaffected by the industrial action, such as ScotRail and Transport for Wales, are expected to maintain normal services during the specified strike days.

Historically, many of the impacted train companies experienced significant disruptions during previous strikes, with some unable to operate any trains. A few managed a limited timetable by deploying managers to drive trains.

Notably, there will be no strike action on Thursday, February 1, or Sunday, February 4, offering a brief respite in the planned disruptions.

Mick Whelan, the Aslef general secretary, expressed frustration, stating that despite giving the government ample opportunities to engage in negotiations, no contact has been made by the Department for Transport (DfT) for a year. Whelan emphasized the financial challenges faced by train drivers amid rising living costs.

In response, a Department for Transport spokesperson deemed Aslef's stance "very disappointing" and urged the union to present a fair offer to its members. The Rail Delivery Group, representing train operators, underscored the negative impact of strikes on lives and livelihoods, particularly during a time when taxpayers are contributing an additional £54 million weekly to sustain post-Covid services.

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