Train drivers’ union Aslef has called for a series of rolling strikes that will take place across the country in December. Rather than a national strike as happened in the past, this latest series of walkouts will affect different parts of the country on different days. A ban on overtime has also been announced, which will impact some rail companies. It comes as the RMT union is voting on a new pay deal that could end walkouts by its members. Here’s what you need to know.
Main photo: a train leaves Waterloo during a day of industrial action in October (Alamy)
When are the next train strikes?
The Aslef union has called a series of rolling strikes that will take place between Saturday, December 2, and Friday, December 8. The strikes will affect different operators on different days, but there will be no strike on Monday, December 4.
The rail companies affected by the walkouts are as follows:
- Saturday, December 2: East Midlands Railway and LNER
- Sunday, December 3: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, Great Northern, Thameslink and West Midlands Trains
- Monday, December 4: no strike
- Tuesday, December 5: C2C and Greater Anglia
- Wednesday, December 6: Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway
- Thursday, December 7: CrossCountry and GWR
- Friday, December 8: Northern and TransPennine Express
It’s expected that there will be no services at all on strike days and services on days either side may also be affected.
In addition to the walkouts, Aslef has also announced a ban on overtime, which will take place between Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 9. This means that even on non-strike days, there will be some cancellation to services. Updated travel schedules should be available on the National Rail website a few days before the strike days.
Meanwhile, train operators have put a new pay deal to members of the RMT union, which represents railway staff, and they will vote by November 30 on whether to accept it. If the offer is accepted, it means the long-running dispute over pay will finally be over for those in the union.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This is a welcome development and our members will now decide in an e-referendum whether they want to accept this new offer from the RDG [Rail Delivery Group].” The dispute has been going on for nearly 18 months over pay and working conditions.
Could there be a train strike over Christmas?
The dispute with Aslef is ongoing so Christmas strike action is possible — but no dates have been set beyond the period from December 2 to December 8. Legally the union must give at least two weeks’ notice of any strike action.
Is the Eurostar affected by train strikes?
Eurostar is not typically affected by rail strikes. If there are any schedule changes, these can be found here.
How to get to London Heathrow during train strikes
Heathrow airport is one of the best connected in the UK and this helps when there’s a rail strike. There are regular coach and TfL bus services, including overnight, when the London Underground is down. On rail strike days, you can catch the London Underground as normal, assuming no strikes on the network there.
Zipcar members can also take advantage of one-way drop-offs or pick-ups at Heathrow Terminal 5.
How to get to London Gatwick during train strikes
A few trains usually run between central London and Gatwick airport on strike days but they can be extremely busy. They are also slower and may stop at more stations than usual. Check before you travel, as the situation can vary depending on who’s striking. National Express coach services are the cheapest alternative and run regularly.
Zipcar is also operating its Flex fleet here, which allows one-way drop-offs at the airport.
How to get to London Stansted during train strikes
Stansted Express services can be affected during strike days and the day after. It’s best to check the schedule before you travel. National Express or the Airport Bus Express shuttle service are the best alternatives.
How to get to London Luton airport during train strikes
There are sometimes still Thameslink services on strike days, but it’s best to check before you travel. As an alternative, there are two coach services to Luton airport from central London: National Express and Arriva’s Green Line.
How to get to London City airport during train strikes
The DLR is the best way to reach London City airport.
How to get to Manchester airport during train strikes
During previous strikes, there were limited train services to Manchester airport but, as you might expect, these can get busy. There is a good network of regional buses as an alternative, and you can also catch the Stagecoach service from central Manchester, or National Express services from surrounding cities.
How to get to Birmingham airport during train strikes
There may be limited rail services on strike days — expect these to be extremely busy. Birmingham airport is served by National Express and Megabus coaches.
Can I get a refund if I miss my holiday because of the strikes?
Unfortunately not. While rail companies will refund the cost of your train fare, they are not obliged to do anything else. It’s your responsibility to get to the airport in good time.
Some airlines are more lenient than others if you miss your flight. Some will offer to rebook you onto the next available flight for free, for example.
The best thing you can do is have comprehensive travel insurance, which should cover some of your out-of-pocket expenses if you end up having to cancel elements of your plans.
