STOPPED IN OUR TRACKS
Train strikes UK: Millions of commuters, footie fans & concert-goers hit by new walkout in run up to Christmas
The travel chaos is set to hit in a matter of days - and it's not likely to end anytime soon
MILLIONS of commuters, footie fans and concert-goers are set to have their plans crushed by train strikes in the run up to Christmas.
The walkout, confirmed by union Aslef, is set to cause even more travel chaos - with it likely disrupting Brits' long-awaited holiday plans.
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It comes amid the long-running dispute over pay but this industrial action will be staggered among different train operators throughout the week - rather than an all-out national strike.
The walkouts will wreak havoc during the first week of December.
The pattern announced by Aslef is:
- Saturday 2 December: East Midlands Railway and LNER.
- Sunday 3 December: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, Great Northern, Thameslink and West Midlands Trains
- Monday 4 December: no strikes
- Tuesday 5 December: C2C and Greater Anglia
- Wednesday 6 December: Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway
- Thursday 7 December: CrossCountry and GWR
- Friday 8 December: Northern and TransPennine Trains
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The strikes won't only impact daily commuters, but football and music lovers alike.
Fottie fans across the board will be impacted by the walkouts.
On the first day of the latest strikes, Arsenal is playing Wolverhampton Wanderers; Brentford is up against Luton Town; Burnley faces off with Sheffield United; Nottingham Forest is playing Everton; and Newcastle United is up against Manchester United.
The following day, December 3, Bournemouth will play Aston Villa; Chelsea is up against Brighton and Hove Albion; Liverpool will hit the field against Fulham; West Ham will play Crystal Palace; and Manchester City will play Tottenham Hotspur.
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The following week, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the following teams' games could be impacted: Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnely, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United.
Concert-goers are also going to be hit.
Kylie Minogue's gig is happening at the Royal Albert Hall on December 1 - the day before the strikes - which could make it hard for some Brits to get home.
Lil Yachty, an American rapper, is also playing at Wembley the same night.
Country singer Morgan Wallen is also set to perform to a sold-out crowd at the O2 on December 3, and Madonna at the same spot on December 5 and 6.
Commuters can also expect disruption to last until December 9 due to an overtime ban.
Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “We are determined to win this dispute and get a significant pay rise for train drivers who have not had an increase since 2019 while the cost of living, in that time, has soared.
"We will continue to take industrial action until the train companies - and/or the Government - sits down and negotiates with us in good faith."
But, leaders across the country say the strikes will have a massive impact.
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls added: “These strikes will hit hospitality businesses at the start of the critical festive period and will devastate trading during one of the busiest weeks of the year, costing the sector up to £800 million.
“The ongoing rail dispute has already cost the sector £3.5billion over the past year and a half and continues to disrupt businesses, prevent staff from working and interrupt families’ Christmas plans."
We are doing everything in our power to stop unions de-railing Christmas for millions of people.
Rishi Sunak
A Senior rail source said: “The ASLEF leadership are at it again. Their latest unnecessary strikes and overtime ban will heap yet more misery and disruption on passengers and business in the crucial run up to Christmas.
"Drivers already get £60,000 a year, without overtime, and the offer on the table is worth an extra £5,000. Most people would say that’s more than fair for a four-day week.”
This marks the fifteenth time train drivers have held strikes since the summer of 2022.
Last month fuming commuters were hit with industrial action on October 2 running for four days.
And, travel chaos is not set to end until April 2024, after the RMT secured a mandate for up to six months of strikes.
Recruitment website Reed estimated the average train driver salary to be £48,500 a year in the UK this year.
The starting salary is around £30,000, but this can rise to £65,000 over time as experience is gained.
But there is a glimmer of hope for Brits as Rishi Sunak pledged anti-strike laws that will ease disruption earlier this month.
It will mean airport border staff and rail workers are be forced to ensure a minimum level of service during any industrial action.
The PM said on November 6: “We are doing everything in our power to stop unions de-railing Christmas for millions of people.
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“This legislation will ensure more people will be able to travel to see their friends and family and get the emergency care they need.
“We cannot go on relying on short term fixes - including calling on our Armed Forces or civil servants - to mitigate the disruption caused by strike action.”
Can you get refunds for tickets affected by the rail strikes?
If you have bought an advance train ticket and it's affected by the strikes, you will be able to claim at least some of your money back.
National Rail said this applies to journeys that have been cancelled, rescheduled or delayed.
The process varies depending on the train operator, but normally you will need to contact the company, provide a picture of your ticket and details of the train you were supposed to be on.
This is part of what's called "Delay Repay".
The scheme will give pay-outs to customers if their train has been delayed by a certain amount of time.
How much you get depends on the train operator, the type of ticket and how long the delay was.
In order to claim you'll need a photo or screenshot of your ticket. If it's an eticket this needs to include the barcode.
If you're a season ticket holder, you'll need to provide a scan of your photocard.
You'll need your booking confirmation containing your booking reference, journey details and the cost of your ticket.
If you don't have your ticket then you'll need to provide a receipt with your journey details and the price paid.
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