Train strikes: What routes are affected when?

Rail travel during this week is being disrupted by industrial action including strikes and an overtime ban.

Members of the train drivers' union Aslef at 16 rail companies will walk out on either Wednesday or Thursday.

It also follows the start of their six-day overtime ban on Bank Holiday Monday and strike action on Tuesday.

Drivers from the train companies below will stage walkouts on different days:

Drivers at c2c, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and Island Line previously walked out on Tuesday 7 May.

The overtime ban also means drivers will not accept any extra shifts which they say are crucial to the smooth running of the rail network.

The action is likely to lead to cancellations, delays and no services in some areas.

Services that do run on strike days are also expected to start later and finish earlier than usual.

Rail passengers with advance tickets can get refunds if the train they are booked on is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled due to strikes.  

If passengers have a return ticket they may also be entitled to a fee-free refund if part of the journey is cancelled.

Aslef, the train drivers' union, is seeking better pay for its members. It says drivers are being asked to sacrifice working conditions in exchange for a wage increase.

Strike action began in July 2022 with no formal talks since April 2023, when the most recent pay deal was rejected.

The offer, described as "risible" by Aslef, included 4% pay rises two years in a row, on condition drivers accept changes to training and negotiate new work patterns.

Train operators say ways of working need to change for wages to rise, because of financial challenges and fairness to taxpayers.

The body which negotiates on behalf of the rail companies, the Rail Delivery Group, says it continues to "seek a fair agreement".

Unions need to re-ballot members every six months to see if they want to continue with industrial action.

Currently, unions are obliged to give at least 14 days' notice of any strike action.

In November last year, RMT members, including guards and ticket office staff, voted to accept a pay offer. This included a backdated pay rise of 5% for 2022-23 and job security guarantees.

Talks over future pay deals and working practices will continue.

The Department for Transport said it expects employers to use minimum service levels "if appropriate to do so, and to deliver the best possible service".

However, industry insiders told the BBC the rules were complicated to put in place. One source said it meant co-ordinating a reduced timetable with other operators in a short space of time.

The Rail Delivery Group, an membership organisation of Britain's train operating companies, said minimum services levels was a potential tool but not a "silver bullet".

Unions strongly oppose it.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says median pay for "train and tram drivers" is just under £59,000.

Train companies and the government say the offer rejected by Aslef would take average train driver pay to £65,000.

If drivers are excluded (because they tend to be members of the Aslef union, not RMT) its estimate is £39,518. However, the RMT union said that figure was too high because it does not include rail cleaning staff.

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