Advertisement
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Just £9.99 for the next 8 weeks
SUBSCRIBE
Employment

Tube and train strikes: Disruption for rail passengers as London Underground strike called off

Much of the UK’s rail network will grind to a standstill during April and May, as train drivers strike for better pay and conditions.

ASLEF train drivers will strike in April and May. Credit: canva

Much of the UK’s rail network will grind to a standstill during April as train drivers strike for better pay and conditions – but two days of tube strikes have been called off.

Planned London Underground strikes – slated for Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 May – have been cancelled at the last minute.

A spokesperson for ASLEF union said that “key issues” had been resolved “without the need for strikes”.

Previously, the union – which represents 96% of Britain’s train drivers – had accused employers of forcing Tube drivers to work “harder and longer for less.”

The tube news will be welcomed by miserable commuters. However, travellers should still expect “severe disruption” across National Rail services in coming days, with strikes scheduled at 16 major rail companies.

Why have the Tube strikes in April and May 2024 been called off?

ASLEF Tube drivers had planned to conduct two days of strikes, walking out on Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 May. Much of the London network was set to grind to a halt, with Transport for London (TfL) warning passengers to expect “severe disruption.”

Advertisement
Advertisement

“Some lines will have little or no service,” the operator said in a statement.

But today, ASLEF announced that strikes had been called off amidst “successful” talks.

ASLEF is seeking better pay for its tube driver members. It says that existing pay offers have been accompanied by unacceptable sacrifices to working conditions, such as drivers being forced to spend longer working.

Today, a spokesperson confirmed that these issues had been resolved. 

Nick Dent, director of customer operations for London Underground, said that the operator was “pleased” with the outcome, adding “We will continue to work constructively with the trade unions to avoid disruption and address concerns.”

“Management has confirmed that they have disbanded their ‘Trains Modernisation’ team and will not be implementing their plans to changes drivers’ working arrangements without agreement,” they said.

Advertisement

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that the outcome illustrated the power of negotiation.

“This demonstrates – once again – what can be achieved by talking and engaging with transport staff and trade unions rather than working against them,” he posted on X.

Advertisement

What dates are the mainline train strikes in April and May?

Advertisement

Commuters can still expect some travel chaos, with drivers across the country set to strike in coming days.

On Friday 5 April, ASLEF members will walk out at Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains and CrossCountry.

Advertisement

On Saturday 6 April, members will walk out at Chiltern, GWR, LNER, Northern, and TransPennine Trains

On Monday 8 April, members will strike at c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and depot drivers, and SWR Island Line.

Advertisement

Members will also refuse to work their rest days from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 April and from Monday 8 to Tuesday 9 April.

ASLEF has also called an additional strike and overtime ban at the UK’s flagship train operator, LNER, for Saturday 20 April. Drivers will also refuse overtime on Friday 19 and Sunday 21 April.

The company is in a long-running dispute with LNER specifically over “pressure” it has exercised on drivers who plan to strike. 

Nigel Roebuck, full-time organiser in the northeast of England, blamed the government, claiming it has leaned on the company to “persuade every driver manager and driver instructor to work on strike days; effectively to provide a minimum service level without invoking the legislation.”

Advertisement

Will these operators run any service on strike days?

Some of these operators will run a “skeleton service” on these days, ASLEF assistant general secretary Simon Weller told the Calling All Stations Podcast – but others won’t be able to run any trains at all.

Advertisement

“LNER, for example, will get all their managers to drive trains on strike day, so they can provide a skeleton service,” he said.

“But the others, like the southern region companies and the northwest and northern companies, there’ll be a complete shutdown.”

Advertisement

You can find more information on mainline strikes at the website of your train operator.

Advertisement

Buy a Big Issue Vendor Support Kit

This Christmas, give a Big Issue vendor the tools to keep themselves warm, dry, fed, earning and progressing.

Recommended for you

View all
People with disabilities and ill health more likely to leave work, study finds – the DWP must fix this
dwp
Work

People with disabilities and ill health more likely to leave work, study finds – the DWP must fix this

Last Christmas I was in prison. This year I'm working in a London fine-dining restaurant
Christmas

Last Christmas I was in prison. This year I'm working in a London fine-dining restaurant

Get Britain Working: What are Labour's plans for the DWP, benefits and employment support?
Stock image of a Job Centre Plus sign
Department for Work and Pensions

Get Britain Working: What are Labour's plans for the DWP, benefits and employment support?

Unemployment has risen while pay growth slows as experts warn of ‘cooling’ jobs market
Stock photo of UK bank notes and coins
Employment

Unemployment has risen while pay growth slows as experts warn of ‘cooling’ jobs market

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know