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Train strikes: Services to be hit by fresh wave of industrial action

Getty Images A CrossCountry train travelling on the tracksGetty Images
Passengers travelling by train can expect significant disruption from Friday onwards

Rail passengers in the West of England will face significant disruption over the next few days due to planned industrial action.

No CrossCountry services will run on Friday because of strikes involving members of the main train drivers' union Aslef.

The walkouts will also affect Great Western Railway with an "extremely" limited service on Saturday.

London Underground drivers will strike on Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 May.

Fourteen other train companies nationally will be hit by the strikes on Friday and the weekend.

The latest round of strikes are due to ongoing disputes over pay and working conditions, and also involve a six-day ban on working overtime.

Customers are advised to only travel over Friday and the weekend if essential and to leave more time for their journeys.

When are the strikes?

Strike action by Aslef union members will affect the following companies.

  • Friday 5 April: CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway and West Midlands Trains
  • Saturday 6 April: Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express.
  • Monday 8 April: c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and SWR Island Lane

Richard Morris, CrossCountry's service delivery director has apologised to customers ahead of the latest strikes.

"While we're working hard to run as many services as possible over these days, there is likely to be significant disruption for people planning to travel - especially on Saturday 6 April," he said.

"I'd ask those planning to travel to check their journey in advance, as well as on the day."

Passengers are advised to check their rail operator's website or the National Rail website for up-to-date travel information as some companies hope to run reduced services despite the industrial action.

Aslef says its drivers have not had a pay rise for five years, since April 2019, and accuses the rail companies of being "intransigent".