Train strikes start ahead of weekend disruption

Friday will see large parts of the country without train services as the latest strike action starts. 

Members of Aslef union – who work at more than a dozen train companies are striking and refusing to work overtime on Saturday. 

Saturday will also see up to 20,000 RMT union members at 14 operators also strike in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. 

Operators running no services on Friday, 1 September include Northern, Avanti West Coast, Transpennine, Southern and Thameslink.

On Saturday, 2 September, fewer than half of the trains will be running and some services will be subject to short-notice cancellation, according to the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the rail companies.

Passengers are advised to check before they travel. 

Service levels will vary across England and some journeys to Scotland and Wales will be affected.