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Rail strike: When is it and which trains are running? Train strikes: What is the rail dispute about?
(21 days later)
Rail passengers are facing further severe disruption. Train drivers at eight rail companies will strike later this month over an ongoing dispute about pay and conditions. The move comes a day after rail workers at the RMT union also announced a strike.
A greatly reduced train service is in place because tens of thousands of railway workers are striking over pay and job cuts. Thousands of workers walked out on three days in June, causing severe disruption to millions of passengers.
When are the rail strikes and will there be more? When are the next train strikes?
Railway workers are holding the third and final day of planned strikes on Saturday. The train drivers' union, Aslef, has announced that 5,500 of its members will strike on Saturday 30 July.
The strike has been called by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT). If the strike goes ahead, it will coincide with the Commonwealth Games, which are being held in Birmingham. It is also the first day of the English Football League season.
It has not announced any further strike dates, but says industrial action will continue for "as long as it needs to". In addition, Aslef has already held strike days on Greater Anglia services, and another is scheduled for Saturday 23 July. Drivers at Hull Trains are also due to strike on 16 and 23 July.
Separately, train drivers who are members of the Aslef union are due to strike over pay at Greater Anglia on 2 July and on Croydon Tramlink on 28 and 29 June and 13 and 14 July. Separately, members of the RMT union, who work for train companies or Network Rail, are set to walk out for 24 hours onWednesday 27 July. The announcement was made after the union rejected a new pay offer from Network Rail.
How many trains are running? RMT members include everyone from guards and signallers to catering staff and cleaners.
On Saturday, it is expected that 20% of services will be running between between 06:30 and 18:30. A third union, the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA), has also voted in favour of strike action, but has yet to name dates for strikes.
Passengers are being advised not to travel unless it's essential. By law, unions must give 14 days' notice of a strike taking place.
A map has been published showing the lines operating. Train drivers to go on strike on 30 July
Why are so many lines affected? New rail strike to take place on 27 July
Staff at most companies which operate trains are striking - but even where they're not, services are being disrupted. Which lines would be affected?
This is because staff at Network Rail - which maintains the railways throughout Britain - have joined the action. Train drivers at the following companies are set to strike on 30 July:
For example, Transport for Wales and Southern Rail - whose workers are not striking - have cut services back. Arriva Rail London
Why is the strike happening? Chiltern Railways
The RMT, which has tens of thousands of members, including everyone from guards and signallers to catering staff and cleaners, called the strikes over job cuts, pay and conditions. Great Western
It says an offer of a 2% pay rise, with the possibility of a further 1%, was "unacceptable", pointing to the rising cost of living - with inflation forecast to reach 11%. LNER
Network Rail said it would offer a pay rise above 3%, but only if the union agreed to modernise working practices. Greater Anglia
Southeastern
Hull Trains
West Midlands Trains
If the Aslef strike does go ahead, it is unlikely to bring the entire rail network to a halt, says BBC transport correspondent Katy Austin. But it would cause widespread disruption during the Commonwealth Games, she adds.
In Scotland, Aslef has accepted a pay increase offered by ScotRail, following weeks of disruption caused by industrial action.
When the RMT held strikes in June, it affected travel across England, Scotland and Wales because the industrial action involved Network Rail, which is responsible for maintaining the railway network throughout Britain. Only about 20% of trains ran during strike days.
Following the announcement of the latest strike - which is due to take place on 27 July - RMT leader Mick Lynch has said "the rail network will be shut down for 24 hours".
What is the dispute about?
The unions are in dispute with the government and rail companies over pay, job cuts and changes to terms and conditions.
Aslef says drivers need a pay rise, saying the rising cost of living means its members have effectively had a pay cut in recent years.
Network Rail says its latest offer is worth more than 5%, but that it depended on workers accepting "modernising reforms". However, the RMT says this is a "paltry sum" and represents "a real terms pay cut".
The RMT said another issue was plans by Network Rail to cut 2,500 maintenance jobs, as the company tries to save £2bn over the next two years. The union insists those jobs are safety-critical.
Network Rail says there would be no more than 2,000 job losses - and that all redundancies can be voluntary. It says it would not consider any changes that would make the railways less safe, but stresses modernisation is needed.
How much are rail workers paid?How much are rail workers paid?
The RMT has also accused the government of preventing rail companies from freely negotiating on pay. Ministers say the dispute should be resolved between the unions and the employers. The TSSA is also demanding a pay rise which reflects the rising cost of living, as well as a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies and no unagreed changes to terms and conditions.
The RMT says another issue is that Network Rail plans to cut 2,500 maintenance jobs, as it tries to save £2bn over the next two years. The union says the jobs are safety critical. The government says the railway system needs modernisation and has to be financially sustainable for the long term. It says £16bn of taxpayers' money was used to support the railways during the Covid pandemic. However, with passenger numbers still down by one-fifth, it says changes are needed.
Network Rail says there would be no more than 2,000 job losses - and that all can be voluntary. It says it would not consider any changes that would make the railways less safe and that modernisation is needed. Can I get a refund if there's a strike?
The government has made various allegations about working practices on the railways that need changing, such as Sunday not being treated as a normal working day and staff refusing to be multi-skilled. During the RMT strikes in June, National Rail published guidance covering different scenarios and ticket types.
The RMT union has rejected these and responded: "It is simply false that the union is opposed to modernisation and change on the railways. If that was the case, we would still have tens of thousands of workers transporting coal for steam trains around the country." If your train is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, National Rail says you are entitled to a refund from the retailer where you bought the ticket.
The government says £16bn of taxpayers' money was used to support the railways during the Covid pandemic. However, with passenger numbers still down by one fifth, it says changes are needed. Season ticket holders who choose not to travel on strike days can claim compensation for those days.
Will I be able to get a refund?
National Rail has published guidance covering different scenarios and ticket types.
If your train is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, National Rail says you are entitled to a refund from the retailer you bought the ticket from.
If you have a ticket for one of the strike days, you can use it the day before, or until Tuesday of the following week.
Season ticket-holders who choose not to travel on strike days can claim compensation for those days.
People are being advised to check with operators about switching to other routes to avoid disruption.