How long will the rail strike on May 31 last and will it affect June 1? | British News
A new wave of Train strikes are taking place in the UK this week, wreaking havoc on commuters.
Members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) and National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) unions will join today (Wednesday 31 May), Friday 2 June and Saturday 3 June , retire.
Both rail unions have rejected wage offers put forward by the government, meaning strike action will continue until an agreement can be reached.
As part of a separate, longstanding dispute, there is also an overtime ban for ASLEF drivers on Thursday 1 June.
Those planning to travel this week, perhaps to have some fun during the semester term, may want to reconsider their plans or look into alternative modes of transport.
But how long will the strikes last if they start tomorrow and will the trains be affected the next day?
Here’s what you need to know:
How long will today’s train strike last?
Members of the ASLEF union have been resigning all day today.
Also there will be an ASLEF strike on Saturday 3rd June while RMT workers will go on strike on Friday 2nd June.
Today’s strikes will result in many rail companies suspending all services or offering a restricted timetable.
Railway companies affected by the May 31 strike
National Rail has advised all passengers to check with their respective rail companies for updates during the strike days. If you already have pre-sale tickets for the trip, you can exchange them or travel on a different date by checking with the organization you bought them from.
Before you set off, check your trip with National Rail Inquiries’ real-time journey planner to find out about any cancellations or delays.
Elizabeth Line, Eurostar, Grand Central, Hull Trains, London Overground, Lumo, Merseyrail, Scotrail and Transport for Wales will not be affected by the strike action and will continue to operate as usual.
Are the trains on Thursday 1st June affected?
Although no strike is planned for Thursday 1 June, railway companies have warned passengers that some services may still be affected and suspended due to the strikes of the previous days.
Greater Anglia has previously reported that some services have been suspended due to last minute strike action.
Some services will also not operate on the Stanstead Express and Chiltern Railways has presented an amended timetable saying the services may be busier than expected.
If Aslef members deduct non-contractual overtime on June 1st, this may also have an impact on the services.
This follows earlier strike dates and overtime ban days in May 2023.
When Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan announced the strikes, he accused the RDG of rejecting “proposals to modernize Britain’s railways and make them operate more efficiently for passengers and businesses in the 21st century”.
In response, Rail Delivery Group said the strike was “disappointing news for our customers and employees”.
It went on to say: “Further strike actions are completely unnecessary and will only increase the pressure on an industry that is already in an acute financial crisis…”
The group said it had made a “fair and revised” wage increase offer that would have introduced “pre-existing, overdue, sensible improvements in parts of the network”.
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