The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) – which represents train operating companies – is reminding passengers that there will be substantial disruption to train services between Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, as railway workers take industrial action in pursuit of their claims for a pay rise and protection of jobs and working conditions.

Rail operators are advising passengers to plan ahead and check first and last train times.

Train drivers’ union ASLEF has called strike on Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, and all-grades rail union RMT is striking on Friday 2 June, after its members voted overwhelmingly to renew its strike mandate earlier this month.

The strikes will impact services on fifteen train operating companies, as train services will either not run at all, will be severely reduced, and/or will start later and finish much earlier than usual – typically between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

The RDG anticipates that on the RMT strike day, around half of the network will close, with about fifty percent of normal services running.  On ASLEF’s strike days, the RDG expects around forty percent of train to run, but the impact will vary across region and in some areas, no trains will run.

In addition, preparation for the strike will affect evening services on some lines on the day before each strike. The operators are urging passengers to check the last train times on the evenings before strike days and the mornings following strikes.

ASLEF members will also refuse to work overtime on the fifteen train operating companies on 1 June. This will cause cancellations and delays, particularly affecting journeys in and out of London.

The industrial action will disrupt train travel to the FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City on 3 June at Wembley stadium. The RDG is telling fans not to make the journey by train on the day and to plan ahead if they intend to travel on the day before. The Football Association has confirmed that it will run coaches to replace the rail services.

Industrial action on 3 June will also impact more than 100,000 people travelling to the Epsom Derby, to Beyoncé’s  ‘Renaissance’ world tour concert at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium, and to the England v Ireland cricket test match at Lord’s.

Passengers can check for latest updates on the national rail website  or with their train operator, and can read more about the reasons behind the industrial action on the RMT and ASLEF websites.

The RDG has confirmed that passengers with Advance, Anytime or Off-Peak tickets for travel on a strike day can instead use their ticket on an alternative date:

• Tickets for Wednesday 31st May can be used on the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Friday 2 June.
• Tickets for Friday 2 June and Saturday 3 June can be used on the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Tuesday 6 June
• Passengers with Advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.
• If the Advance ticket is for a train scheduled for a strike day, but it is not cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, and a customer prefers not to travel, they should contact their ticket retailer.
• Customers with 2 x Advance tickets (an outbound and a return), to be used as a return journey, may be able to get a fee-free refund or change of journey for any unused legs/tickets, if either of the legs is scheduled for a strike day. Customers should check with their ticket retailer.
• Season Ticket holders (flexi, monthly or longer) who cannot travel, can claim 100% compensation through Delay Repay for the strike dates of Wednesday 31 May, Friday 2 June and Saturday 3 June.

A Rail Delivery Group 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 from to the FA Cup final and other events across the country, causing disappointment and frustration for tens of thousands of people. It will also inconvenience families who have been looking forward and have planned their half-term holidays. It will also further burden our people who have already lost thousands of pounds at a time of financial strain.

“We understand the impact of these strikes on individuals and businesses alike, and we can only apologise for this unnecessary and damaging disruption. While we are doing all we can to keep trains running, unfortunately there will be reduced train services between Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, so our advice is to check before you travel. Passengers with Advance tickets can be refunded fee-free if the train that the ticket is booked for is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled.”

ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan said, “‘We do not want to go on strike – we do not want to inconvenience passengers, we have families and friends who use the railway, too, and we believe in investing in rail for the future of this country – but the blame for this action lies, fairly and squarely, at the feet of the employers who have forced our hand over this by their intransigence.

“It is now up to them to come up with a more sensible, and realistic, offer and we ask the government not to hinder this process.”