![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/25\/590x\/secondary\/4937547.jpg?r=1693557532730\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Rail passengers will face severe disruption today as a drivers’ strike looks to bring services to a standstill across the country.<\/p>\n
The 24-hour walkout by members of Aslef will severely affect timetables, with trains starting later and finishing earlier than usual, with some areas having no trains all day.\u00a0The dispute started over a year ago and remains deadlocked, with no talks planned and no sign of a breakthrough.<\/p>\n
Drivers will also ban overtime on Saturday, coinciding with a strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union in its dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Both unions blame the government for blocking any chance of a deal by refusing to allow train operators to make an offer they can recommend to their members.<\/p>\n
Aslef said Friday\u2019s strike will force companies to cancel services across the country and the ban on overtime will \u201cseriously disrupt\u201d the network as the union maintains that none of the train companies employs enough drivers to provide a proper service without drivers working on their days off.<\/p>\n
Read more: <\/strong> One million operations cancelled by autumn \u2013 grim milestone in doctors\u2019 strike<\/strong><\/p>\n Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: \u201cThe Government appears happy to let passengers, and businesses, suffer in the mistaken belief that they can bully us into submission.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t care about passengers, or Britain\u2019s railway, but they will not break us.<\/p>\n \u201cTrain drivers at these companies have not had a pay rise for four years, since 2019, while inflation has rocketed, We haven\u2019t heard a word from the employers, we haven\u2019t had a meeting, a phone call, a text message, or an email, since Wednesday April 26, and we haven\u2019t had any contact with the Government since Friday January 6.<\/p>\n \u201cThis shows how the contempt in which the companies, and the Government, hold passengers and staff and public transport in Britain.\u201d<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: \u201cFurther strike action by the Aslef leadership is unnecessary and will cause more disruption to passengers looking to enjoy the end of the summer holidays.<\/p>\n \u201cThe union leadership has its head in the sand and refuses to put our fair and reasonable offer to their members.<\/p>\n \u201cThe offer would increase the average driver base salary for a 4-day week without overtime from \u00a360,000 to nearly \u00a365,000 by the end of 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to give our staff a pay increase, but it has always been linked to implementing necessary, sensible reforms that would enhance services for our customers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe urge the Aslef leadership to acknowledge the substantial financial challenges facing the rail industry and work with us to achieve a more dependable and robust railway system for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n A Department for Transport spokesperson said: \u201cAfter taxpayers supported rail workers throughout the pandemic, it\u2019s frustrating to see both Aslef and RMT coordinate their strikes with the aim of causing as much disruption as possible on the last weekend of the summer holidays.<\/p>\n \u201cThere remains fair and reasonable offers on the table for both unions, one which would bring the average train driver\u2019s salaries up to \u00a365,000 and one which RMT members working for Network Rail accepted months ago.<\/p>\n \u201cContinued industrial action is disappointing and delays the reforms that would ultimately benefit passengers, rail workers and taxpayers.\u201d<\/p>\n South Western Railway advised passengers to only travel if \u201cabsolutely necessary\u201d on Friday, warning that most of its network will be closed. There will be an \u201cextremely limited\u201d service on a small number of lines, with trains only run between 7am and 7pm.<\/p>\n The same advice was given for Saturday because of the RMT strike and Aslef overtime ban. Friday\u2019s strike coincides with the final day of consultation on controversial plans to close most railway ticket offices, which has sparked hundreds of thousands of responses from the public.<\/p>\n A protest was held opposite Downing Street on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/25\/590x\/secondary\/4937549.jpg?r=1693557532838\")
<\/p>\n
UK’s ‘smuggest town’ mocked as ‘terribly posh and full of bullied people'[LATEST] <\/strong>
Tourist attraction slammed as \u2018underwhelming\u2019 and \u2018as fake as it gets\u2019[INSIGHT] <\/strong>
Last-minute flight and holiday booking tips to save you money[REPORT] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/25\/590x\/secondary\/4937550.jpg?r=1693557532962\")
<\/p>\n