Members of the drivers union Aslef
(Picture: PA Wire)Rail chiefs have apologised to the millions of passengers who will have their new year travel plans disrupted by a week of strikes.
Aslef, the drivers’ union, on Tuesday announced that its members at 14 train firms would walk out on Thursday, January 5 in an ongoing pay dispute. This means the railways will be brought to a near standstill on the first four working days of 2023, as the RMT has already announced action on January 3, 4 and 6 — as well as on Saturday January 7, including by signalling staff at Network Rail.
Train firms affected by the Aslef walkout include Thameslink, Southern, Southeastern, South Western Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia and Avanti West Coast. Network Rail had already warned passengers to only travel if “absolutely necessary” but the move by Aslef will effectively force rail commuters to spend the week working from home.
A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents rail firms, said: “More strikes threaten the industry’s long-term sustainability. No one wants to see this strike go ahead, and we can only apologise to passengers and to the many businesses who will be hit by this damaging disruption.”
Aslef has held five one-day strikes this year and 93 per cent of members voted in favour of six more months of action.
RMT general-secretary Mick Lynch reportedly held secret talks with Network Rail yesterday, paving the way for further talks in the new year.
