Train passengers will be hit with fresh travel disruption as two unions take three days of industrial action this week.
The drivers' union Aslef is walking out today and Saturday, causing no trains to run at Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern and Thameslink. Meanwhile, another strike is set to rock the transport system when the Rail Maritme and Transport Union (RMT) strike on Friday.
Although ScotRail services will not be affected, Scots travelling over the border face much disruption from May 31 to June 3. The strikes are affecting 15 train companies as services due to start later and finish much earlier than usual – typically between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
The industrial action will affect football fans travelling to London for the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United on Saturday at Wembley Stadium. Fans wishing to travel to the game by train from Manchester are being advised not to attempt to do so on the day.
On Friday, June 2, the RMT's strike day, around half of the network will shut down, with around 50% of normal services running. And on Aslef strike days - Wednesday, May 31 and Saturday, June 3 -around 40% of trains will be running but there will be wide regional variations.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said services are severely reduced, with variations across the network and no trains at all in some areas. Evening services on some lines are being affected on the days before each strike.
Aslef also starts an overtime ban at 15 train operating companies on Thursday that could cause disruption, especially in and out of London.
Industrial action on Saturday will also affect more than 100,000 people travelling to the annual Epsom Derby as well as fans attending Beyonce's Renaissance world tour concert at Tottenham’s stadium and cricket fans travelling to watch the England v Ireland Test match at Lord’s.
An RDG spokesperson said: “The upcoming rail strikes called by the Aslef and RMT leadership will not only affect our passengers’ daily commute, but will also impact those travelling to and from the FA Cup final and other events across the country, causing disappointment and frustration for tens of thousands of people.
The unions say they have not been given a pay offer it can recommend to their members. Officials say support for industrial action remains strong among workers as well as the public.
Aslef says train drivers have not had a pay rise for four years.
Both unions claim the Government is preventing the train companies making an acceptable offer, which ministers deny.
A DfT spokesperson said: "These strikes have been co-ordinated by union leaders to disrupt passengers in a week which will see major events such as the first ever all Manchester FA Cup final, the Epsom Derby and a number of concerts and festivals across the UK.
"Not content with impacting the hundreds of thousands of people who have looked forward to these events all year round, unions are also targeting their own members’ pockets by forcing them to miss out on pay every time they strike.
"The Government has facilitated a fair and reasonable pay offer, now union leaders must do the right thing and put this to their members."
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