Credit: HENRY NICHOLLS/REUTERS
Rail passengers have been warned to brace for more chaos this weekend after train drivers started a new series of strikes over wage disputes.
The latest strikes came after the Aslef train workers' union and the rail, maritime and transport workers' union (RMT) rejected revised wage proposals for their members last month.< /p>
Massive failure expected, 16 railway lines completely disabled. Here is National Rail's advice for travelers:
Advice for Traveling During a Train Strike
National Rail has warned passengers that «significant disruptions» are expected during the strike days, which will likely result in limited or no train service on large sections of the network.
Trains can also be interrupted and sent later. the next day.
Train operators are still evaluating how the mass strikes will affect their ability to operate services on each of the strike days, meaning passengers may have to wait longer to find out if specific trips will be affected.
The National Railway has advised passengers to:
- Use its Journey Planner, which has been updated so far to reflect planned service changes for May 12 and May 13 for most train operators. Passengers should check the information closer to the date of each strike.
- Use the Live Trains page for the most up-to-date arrival and departure information
- Plan ahead and check ahead You are traveling. This includes checking your entire journey, especially if you are traveling on the first and last train on strike days.
When are the next train strikes?
The train drivers go on strikes for four days:
- Friday, May 12 (Aslef)
- Saturday, May 13 (RMT)
- Wednesday, May 31 ( Aslef)
- Saturday, June 3 (Aslef)
The Aslef overtime ban, which could result in last-minute cancellations, will also apply on the following days:
- Saturday, May 13
- from Monday, May 15 , through Saturday, May 20.
- Thursday 1 June
The strikes will affect thousands of people traveling to Saturday's Eurovision final in Liverpool.
The last day of the strike also coincides with the Cup final England in London as Manchester United take on Manchester City at Wembley on 3 June.
Beyoncé fans planning to attend the Renaissance World Tour concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the same day will also be affected.
Which rail companies are affected by the strikes?
The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firefighters (Aslef) represents UK train drivers. Workers from 16 railway companies will strike and RMT members will also strike on the day of the Eurovision final (Saturday 13 May):
- Avanti West Coast
- c2c (Saturday 13 May only)
- Chiltern Railways
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- Great Western Railway
- GTR Great Northern Thameslink
- Heathrow Express (closed after 21:00 Saturday 13 May)
- North Eastern Railway London
- Northern Trains
- South East
- South/Gatwick Express
- South Western Railway
- SWR depot drivers
- SWR Island Line
- TransPennine Express
- West Midlands trains
< li>Greater England
What do the train strikes mean for the Eurovision final? 
Liverpool Lime Street will be the main destination for Eurovision fans later this month. Photo: Eleanor Barlow/PA Wire
RMT union leaders have insisted they did not plan to disrupt today's Eurovision final in Liverpool, instead blaming strike laws forcing them to give two weeks to perform. notice.
Network Rail provided travel advice here, warning passengers: «Trains are expected to be busy throughout the week of the contest.» Here are three tips:
- Plan ahead by checking the National Railroad
- Allow extra time for your trip — there will be a queuing system during peak hours
- Travel light: Keep luggage and bags to a minimum as the trains will be very busy.
However, travelers should check with their train operator to find out how to avoid the strike on May 13th. Affected operators will include: Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Eastern Railway, Transpennine Express, West Midlands Trains, GTR and Avanti West Coast.
The most frequently used routes are expected to be Avanti and Northern Trains, respectively connecting London to Liverpool and Liverpool to other cities in the north.
Northern Railway warned: Maybe. On the routes on which trains run, traffic will be carried out approximately from 08:00 to 17:00. If you are traveling on strike days, be sure to plan your return trip and avoid the last trains if possible.”
Why are Aslef drivers on strike?
Train drivers' The union has been embroiled in a year-long wage dispute, having already gone on strike for eight days since last summer.
Railway companies represented by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) proposed a 4% increase Another increase followed in 2022 by 4 percent in 2023.
Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, said the proposal was «clearly not meant to be passed» because inflation is still above 10 percent, which means the proposal represents real wage cuts.
General Secretary Mick Whelan Aslefa rejected the union's pay proposal because in real terms it meant a pay cut. Dinendra Haria/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
He added that train drivers have not received a salary increase since 2019.
To qualify for the first 4 percent increase, companies need to commit to getting drivers to switch to the new fares. routes faster to help fill service gaps and use technology to train new staff more quickly.
The second year of pay increases will depend on the «successful completion» of reform negotiations that would see drivers working on Sundays will be required to do so by contract unless there is an alternative cover.
This was stated by RDG. the change has been vital as leisure travel has recovered much stronger than commuter and business travel and is now at 116% of pre-Covid levels. back into the hands of the employers.”
Do you support the ASLEF drivers' strike?
However, the machinists' union said the proposal of 8% over two years, which would raise the average machinist's salary from around £60,000 to just under £65,000, was not enough.
Since then, inflation has mostly been in double digits. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in July last year, this figure remained at 10.4% in March.
This means that the pay proposal will continue to be a significant reduction in wages in real terms.
An RDG spokesman said: «Further strikes are completely unnecessary, they will only increase pressure on an industry that is already facing a severe financial crisis.»
What about more RMT strikes in the next six months? 
The RMT strikes in January canceled almost 75% of trains as people returned to work after Christmas. Credit: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Rail passengers could face travel chaos for another six months after RMT union members voted in favor of further train strikes last week.
A second vote by members of 14 railway companies confirmed his authority. for new strikes in the longstanding wage dispute, with 91% supporting further strikes.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: to massive job cuts and serious attacks on their conditions.
“This sends a clear signal to employers that the huge anger among railroad workers is very real and they need to acknowledge this fact, face the truth and make improvements.”
The results follow RMT's announcement that its members will strike again on 13 May, the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final in Liverpool.
The latest action came after RMT rejected the latest payment offer from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which includes rail operators Avanti. , Cross Country and Great Western Railway.
RMT said the revised RDG proposal would require the union to end its industrial mandate, meaning no further strikes could take place.
RDG Chairman Steve Montgomery said the industry group was «dazzled» by the strike announcement.
He said: «RMT is negotiating in bad faith, once again denying its members voting rights on a fair pay deal, needlessly disrupting the lives of millions of our passengers and undermine the viability of an industry critical to the UK economy.”
This article is updated daily with the latest news.
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