Another wave of rail strikes is disrupting train journeys in July – and industrial action announced by the ASLEF and RMT unions will coincide.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has announced more action over pay, jobs, pensions and conditions.
This means there will be disruption to both the rail and Tube network across the month.
Meanwhile, the ASLEF union also announced overtime bans and strikes in a dispute over pay.
ASLEF represents drivers, whereas RMT represents members from lots of different sectors within the rail industry – including station staff and guards.
When ASLEF members go on strike, it usually means there are no drivers. When RMT members go on strike, there is widespread disruption to the network with lots of people in different roles going on strike.
Here is everything you need to know:
Rail strike dates
The RMT union has scheduled rail strikes for the following dates:
Thursday 20 July
Saturday 22 July
Saturday 29 July
Aslef members at 16 rail operators will refuse to work overtime – an action short of a strike – on the following days:
Monday 3 July
Tuesday 4 July
Wednesday 5 July
Thursday 6 July
Friday 7 July
Saturday 8 July
Monday 17 July
Tuesday 18 July
Wednesday 19 July
Thursday 20 July
Friday 21 July
Saturday 22 July
Tube strike dates
The RMT union has warned its action would cripple parts of the network each day.
There will be tube strikes on:
Sunday 23 July
Tuesday 25 July
Wednesday 26 July (ASLEF members also striking)
Thursday 27 July
Friday 28 July (ASLEF members also striking)
There will be no strike on Monday 23 July, but there is usually disruption to the network on the days before and following a strike.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This week of action will shut down the London Underground and show just how important the work of our members is.”
Which train lines are set to be affected?
Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast has said it is currently looking at the impact the RMT strikes will have on its services and will have “more information” for its customers soon.
It said it plans to run its normal timetable during the Aslef action.
On previous occasions, it said that customers who booked tickets to travel on strike days before industrial action was announced could claim a full fee-free refund from their point of purchase.
C2C
No announcements have been made yet on its website about the July industrial action.
However, the website states if your journey is delayed by over two minutes, you will automatically get a delay repay if you travel using a c2c Smartcard.
Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways have put out a detailed announcement about what to look out for when travelling.
It said during the Aslef action, trains will be busier than usual, and there will be changes across the network’s timetable.
It has also advised customers to “check before you travel”.
Due to the Aslef action, the railway has said there will be a limited service in operation between 3 July and 8 July.
Chiltern Railways have not yet announced plans for the RMT strike action that will take place later next month.
CrossCountry
The train operating company has said during the Aslef industrial action, “a small number of services may be subject to late-notice cancellation or amendment during this period.”
It also said the action will affect train operators across the network, and passengers are advised to check their “entire” journey before travelling.
The network said it is currently assessing the impact the RMT strikes will have on its services and will update its industrial action page in due course.
East Midlands Railway
The company has said from 3 July to 8 July it is expecting a “normal” timetable, but trains are subject to cancellations and changes at short notice.
The network said it is aware of the fresh industrial action taking place between 17 to 22 July and is “currently reviewing how the strikes on Thursday 20, Saturday 22 and Saturday 29 July will impact EMR services.”
Passengers have also been told to check before travelling.
“More information including timetable details, journey planners and ticketing/refund advice will be updated here as soon as possible,” it added.
RMT leader Mick Lynch (centre) joins members of his union on a picket line on 2 June
Greater Anglia
Greater Anglia has said services will start later the next day – after each RMT strike – as a “knock-on” from the walkouts.
A full list of cancellations between 3 to 7 July has been released on its website here.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “While the vast majority of services will be running as normal during the period affected by action short of a strike, there will be some cancellations across our network.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these service alterations and advise customers to plan ahead and check before they travel.
“The rail industry is working hard to resolve the current disputes and reach an agreement.”
Great Western Railway
GWR has said that on RMT strike days, there will be a reduced and revised timetable, and warned many parts of its network “will have no service at all”.
It also said during the Aslef action “short of a strike and the days after [RMT] strikes, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations”.
It added: “The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not run in either direction from Sunday 2 July until Friday 7 July, resuming on Sunday 9 July.”
Further disruption is set to take place from 17 July to 22 July.
GWR added: “This action short of strike is likely to cause some short-notice alterations or cancellations.”
Customers are advised to check before they travel.
If you purchase tickets for the strike days but do not end up travelling, you can claim a full refund or amend the ticket.
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GTR
GTR, also known as Govia Thameslink Railway, is the UK’s biggest railway franchise and operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.
Between 3 July and 8 July, there will be an amended timetable, with fewer services running.
The companies said: “Services will be busier than usual. It’s likely you will need to queue and you may not be able to board your chosen service. You should allow extra time for your journey.”
Gatwick Express services will not run. Gatwick Airport will still be served by Southern and Thameslink.
You can find the latest advice here.
LNER
London North Eastern Railway has said that it will be running trains on the 20,22 and 29 July but “with a reduced timetable.”
“Our trains for all three days are back on sale, however, they are still subject to change until timetables are confirmed by Network Rail approximately one week before each strike day,” LNER said on its website.
During the Aslef union’s industrial action, the network said it would run a normal timetable, but there may also be a possibility of “short-notice alterations and cancellations.”
Northern Trains
The railway operator has said they are “working on how exactly this industrial action will affect our services. However, we expect major disruption across these days.”
The action short of a strike planned between 3 to 8 July and 17 to 22 July will affect some of its services.
“We expect some services to start later and finish earlier than usual, as well as short-notice cancellations. Please check before you travel as journeys may be altered or removed on the day of travel,” it added.
Southeastern
The company has said if RMT’s strike action goes ahead, then “it is likely that we will only be able to run a limited service on these dates [20, 22 and 29 July]”.
With regards to the earlier Aslef overtime ban, Southeastern said it expects to run a full service during this time, but if the strike action does impact travel, then passengers can get a strike refund.
The company said it will update its website accordingly with more information in due course.
South Western Railway
In relation to the RMT strikes, South Western Railway has said customers should expect severe disruption and should consider changing travel plans now if possible.
With regards to the Aslef action, South Western Railway has released a full timetable of services running on those days.
It added: “Services will usually be reduced to hourly in off-peak periods with a small number of cancellations during the morning and evening peaks. Some first and last trains may also be cancelled.”
Transpennine Express
The railway has said it is aware of the RMT union strikes, and passengers have been told to check before travelling.
It has said the planned Aslef action will have some of its services “start later and finish earlier than usual, and some journeys may be altered late or on the day of travel.”
For more information and to stay up to date – you can keep updated on the network’s website.
West Midlands Railway
West Midlands Railway said during the RMT strikes, it will be running a reduced timetable on these dates and some routes will not be served.
It said it would update its timetables on the strike days in “due course”.
During the Aslef action on 3 July to 8 July, West Midlands Railway said it “will continue to operate to our full advertised timetable”.
“A small number of services may be subject to late-notice cancellation or amendment during this period and passengers are advised to check their journeys before travelling.”