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Train strikes: Are services running again and will there be more action? Train strikes: Which routes are affected?
(12 days later)
After a series of national rail strikes dating back to June, unions and rail companies are back in talks. Train drivers at 11 rail companies will strike on Saturday 26 November, as part of their long-running dispute over pay.
But even after this week's strikes were called off, passengers are still facing disruption. The action by the Aslef union is expected to cause considerable disruption - with many of the affected companies running no trains.
Another union, the RMT, has voted in favour of more strike action but no new dates have been announced.
Where are the strikes taking place?
Saturday's strike involves drivers working for:
Avanti West Coast - no services will be running on the day
Chiltern Railways - no services
CrossCountry - no services
East Midlands Railway - no services
Great Western Railway - an "extremely limited" service will operate
Greater Anglia - "heavily reduced" service
London North Eastern Railway - "limited" service
Northern Trains - no services
Southeastern - no services
Transpennine Express - "very limited" service
West Midlands Trains - no services
There may also be disruption on the days before and after the strike day.
Strike action at London Overground - which had been expected on Saturday - has been suspended while union members consider a new pay offer.
Will there be more strikes?Will there be more strikes?
There are currently no more national rail strikes planned. Members of the RMT union, working at Network Rail and 14 train companies, recently backed further action.
The RMT union said it called them off after "the promise of an offer" on pay. This means more strikes are likely unless a deal is reached to end the dispute.
It said it would enter "intensive negotiations" with the train operating companies and Network Rail, which owns infrastructure like tracks and many stations. Another union that has held strikes this year, the TSSA, recently suspended further action at Network Rail, and also at several train companies, to allow for "intensive" negotiations.
However, the RMT is keeping its options open. "If we have to take strike action during the next six months to secure a deal, we will," it says. However, ongoing strikes on a smaller scale may affect some passengers.
Ongoing strikes on a smaller scale may also affect some passengers. In a separate dispute, the RMT is holding strike action at Avanti West Coast on 11 and 12 December, which the company says will have a significant impact. Services that are running will be busier than usual.
RMT rail workers at London Underground and London Overground will strike on 10 November. Transport for London says there will be limited or no service on the whole of the Underground. London Overground will be running but will start later than usual. ScotRail strikes suspended after new pay offer
In Scotland, the RMT plans a strike at ScotRail on 19 November, then on every Friday and Saturday in the run-up to Christmas.
Is there an end in sight to ScotRail strike disruption?
Will my train run on Wednesday and Thursday?
Despite the cancellation of this week's strike, there has been some disruption to services.
Most rail operators say they expect usual service levels to resume from Wednesday.
However, Avanti West Coast says its trains will start later than usual on Wednesday and Thursday.
The company, which runs trains from London to destinations including Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, is warning people to only travel "if absolutely necessary" on Wednesday, which was due to be a strike day.
Avanti says anyone with a ticket up to 10 November can claim a full refund if they don't want to travel.
CrossCountry, which runs trains to cities including Birmingham, Leeds and Cardiff, says there will be "short-term cancellations and amendments" on Wednesday. It plans a normal timetable on Thursday.
Why have railway workers been on strike?Why have railway workers been on strike?
The unions are in dispute with the government and rail companies about pay, job cuts and changes to terms and conditions.The unions are in dispute with the government and rail companies about pay, job cuts and changes to terms and conditions.
On pay, the unions say salaries should increase to reflect the rising cost of living. Unions say train companies have not made any offer on pay, which they say should increase to reflect the rising cost of living.
The RMT has also claimed Network Rail plans to cut 2,500 maintenance jobs, as it tries to save £2bn over the next two years. The union says these jobs are "safety critical". But the rail industry is under pressure to save money, after the pandemic left a hole in its finances. Bosses say reforms need to be agreed, to afford pay increases and modernise the railway.
Network Rail has said there would be no more than 2,000 job losses - and that all redundancies could be voluntary. It said it would not consider any changes that would make the railways less safe. Network Rail is planning to cut 1,900 jobs as part of changes to the way its maintenance teams work - although it insists most of this could be achieved by people leaving voluntarily.
The government has said the railway system needed modernisation and had to be financially sustainable for the long term. The RMT disagrees with some of the changes and wants a guarantee of no compulsory job losses.
Network Rail recently paused a process it started in the summer, of pushing through these changes whether or not the RMT agreed.
It also revised its offer to extend the period of time it will guarantee no compulsory job losses to early 2025.
The employers are negotiating within a mandate agreed with the government - which does have final sign-off on whatever pay rise is agreed.
The Rail Minister Huw Merriman recently said the strikes had "cost the railway about half a billion" so far this year.
How much are rail workers paid?How much are rail workers paid?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has estimated the average salary of rail workers in 2022 as £45,919, based on five different job categories. If drivers are excluded, its estimate is £39,518.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has estimated the average salary of rail workers in 2022 as £45,919, based on five different job categories. If drivers are excluded, its estimate is £39,518.
The RMT said that figure was still too high because it excluded rail cleaning staff who are not categorised as rail workers by the ONS.The RMT said that figure was still too high because it excluded rail cleaning staff who are not categorised as rail workers by the ONS.
Read more: How much are rail workers paid?Read more: How much are rail workers paid?
How will the rail strikes affect your journey? What alternative forms of transport are you using? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.How will the rail strikes affect your journey? What alternative forms of transport are you using? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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