On Saturday 30 July, drivers at seven train companies will stage a 24-hour strike called by the leadership of train drivers’ union ASLEF.

The strike will cause severe disruption to passengers as it coincides with the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the English football league.

Emergency timetables have been published, but passengers should allow extra time for their journey and check for the latest travel advice before they travel. Train companies not involved in the strike will be running trains, but these are expected to be busy.

Companies affected by the industrial action are Arriva Rail London, Greater Anglia, Great Western, Hull Trains, LNER, Southeastern, and West Midlands Trains. Although the walkout is taking place on Saturday, 30th July, disruption is likely to continue into the morning of Sunday, 31st.

Passengers with an advance, off-peak, or anytime ticket who are affected by the strike can use their ticket either on the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Tuesday, 2nd August. They can also change their tickets to travel on an alternative date, or get a refund if their train is cancelled or rescheduled.

Passengers with a season ticket that is monthly or longer, or have an activated days’ worth of travel on a flexi season ticket who choose not to travel on 30th July, can claim compensation through the delay repay scheme. Further information is on the National Rail website.

Passengers whose rail operator is impacted by the industrial action should check journey planners on National Rail Enquiries or operator websites to find alternative route options. Further information is on the National Rail website.

Steve Montgomery, chair of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We’re really disappointed that the Aslef leadership has decided to impose yet more uncertainty and disruption for passengers and businesses in a week which has already seen a strike by the RMT.

“Millions of passengers will have their weekend plans disrupted – particularly those who are working, or going to the Commonwealth Games or the first football match of the season. While we will do all that we can to minimise disruption, if you are going to travel on the routes affected, please plan ahead and check the latest travel advice.
“If you’re not able to travel, you can use your ticket either the day before or up to and including 2 August, otherwise you will be able to change your ticket or claim a refund.

“Like any service or business, we must move with the times and cannot continue to ask taxpayers or passengers for more money when we should instead respond to the huge changes in travel behaviour post covid. By making these necessary reforms such as ending the reliance on volunteer working at weekends, we improve punctuality, have more resilient Sunday services and use those savings to give our people a pay rise which has always been what we want to do.

“Further strikes will see our people out of pocket and mean less money to fund a pay rise, so we urge the ASLEF leadership to resume talks so we can reach a deal that is fair to staff and taxpayers, and which secures a bright, long-term future of our railway.”