York: Aslef train strikes to hit passengers next week

Members of train drivers’ union Aslef will walk out on Saturday, September 30, and Wednesday, October 4, coinciding with the Conservative party’s annual conference in Manchester.

The union says the strikes will force train operators to cancel all services, causing travel chaos for passengers, including those travelling to and from conference.

Aslef members will also ban overtime from September 29 to October 6, which the union said will “seriously disrupt” the rail network.

York Railway Station (Image: Dylan Connell)

York passengers are being warned of disruption during the strikes, which will see members walk out at rail firms operating through the city.

These include LNER, operators of the East Coast Main Line; TransPennine Express, whose services run from York to cities including Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool, and to Malton and Scarborough; and CrossCountry, whose services run from York to cities including Birmingham and Bristol.

The operators are yet to publish timetables during the strikes, but they said disruption is expected for passengers travelling on the days when industrial action is taking place.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “While we regret having to take this action – we don’t want to lose a day’s pay or disrupt passengers as they travel by train – the Government and employers have forced us into this position.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef (Image: Lucy North/PA Wire)

“Our members have not had a pay rise for four years – since 2019 – and that’s not right when prices have soared in that time.

“Train drivers quite reasonably want to be able to buy now what they could buy four years ago.”

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: “Further strike action by the Aslef leadership will cause more disruption to passengers.

“We 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 passengers.

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“The union have rejected a fair and affordable offer without putting it to their members, which would take average driver base salaries for a four-day week without overtime from £60,000 to nearly £65,000.

“We ask the Aslef leadership and executive to recognise the very real financial challenge the industry is facing and work with us to deliver a more reliable and robust railway for the future.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson added: “The Government has facilitated fair and reasonable offers to both RMT and Aslef.

“RMT members working for Network Rail accepted their offer months ago and Aslef’s would bring the average train driver’s salary up to £65,000.

“Further strike action will not only put a strain on taxpayers, but risk driving passengers away from the network for good. These strikes will not prevent the need for essential workplace reforms.”