Around 5,000 train drivers across almost a quarter of Britain’s rail network went on strike on Saturday, as part of a campaign for higher pay after the country’s inflation rate hit its highest in 40 years.
The 24-hour strike organised by train drivers’ union ASLEF is the second significant industrial action this week on Britain’s rail network, after 40,000 members of the RMT and TSSA unions — which represent other rail staff — held a major strike on Wednesday.
Soaring inflation — consumer price inflation is currently 9.4pc — and patchy wage rises have exacerbated labour tensions across sectors including postal services, health, schools, airports and the judiciary.
The rail strike was expected to cause “significant disruption” all day and on Sunday morning, according to Network Rail, which runs Britain’s rail infrastructure.Almost all services on seven of the country’s 34 train operators were cancelled, including regional networks for southeast and eastern England as well as long-distance lines linking London with southwest England, northeast England and Edinburgh.
Passengers endured another day of travel disruption in England after drivers from seven train operators walked out over pay.
Aslef union members went on a 24-hour strike on lines including Southeastern and West Midlands Trains.
Fans travelling to the first games of the season at English Football League clubs and to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham were among those affected.
It added to a summer of misery for passengers after a series of walkouts.
The latest strike, involving some 5,000 Aslef members, also impacted Arriva Rail London - which operates the London Overground - Greater Anglia, Great Western, Hull Trains, and Heathrow Express.
From midnight on Saturday, no trains ran on Southeastern, while operators including Great Western Railway - which runs services between England and Wales - and LNER had severely-reduced services.
Aslef's general secretary Mick Whelan said: "All we are asking for is an increase in line with the increase in the cost of living - soaring inflation is not the fault of working people in this country, it's the fault of this government and its inept handling of the UK economy."
The union says its members have not had a pay rise for three years. Mr Whelan told the BBC the government had prevented train companies from offering more than 2% this year. Inflation is currently 9.4% and is forecast to hit double digits later this year.
Mr Whelan said Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had been "blustering and ducking and diving" but could resolve the dispute by allowing the train companies to come forward with "a sensible offer".
But writing in The Times earlier, Mr Shapps accused "militant union leaders" of bringing the country "to a standstill" and said efficiencies were needed to fund pay rises.
He accused Aslef of "dragging its feet" in talks - something the union denied.
Steve Montgomery, chairman of the Rail Delivery Group which represents rail operators, said bosses were "really disappointed that the Aslef leadership has decided to impose yet more uncertainty and disruption for passengers and businesses".
More strikes are planned in August by Aslef and the RMT union in the row over pay, jobs and conditions.
The disruption to London Overground and Greater Anglia also affected travel to and from Lady Gaga's Chromatica Ball stadium show in Tottenham.
There will be no Overground services into the early hours of Sunday.
West Midlands Trains said it was only operating a "special shuttle" between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International as thousands attend the Commonwealth Games in the city.
