2022 has seen repeated strike action on the rails as they fight for fairer pay (Picture: Thomas Krych/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
As we speed towards Christmas, Britain’s won’t be getting anywhere fast today as the next round of train strikes begin.
Thousands of staff across the RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers), TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs Association) and Aslef (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) will start planned action today, with the strikes expected to last until the new year.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has demanded a meeting with PM Rishi Sunak to bring an end to the ongoing impasse.
The continued action comes as union bosses have agreed the current state of affairs for many workers is the worst fall in wages people have seen since the 70s.
Rail unions have threatened to continue striking deep into the winter over what it considers unacceptable pay offers from rail companies, backed by the government.
Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary with Labour MP’s Dawn Butler and Barry Gardiner (Picture: PA)
No trains will run in many areas, with no direct services at all on some intercity routes between London to Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.
– Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast strongly advises passengers only travel by rail if absolutely necessary on December 24 and 27.
Trains will depart significantly earlier than normal on Christmas Eve and a much later start-up is expected on 27 December.
You can check train times online.
– Chiltern Railways
As per their website, train services will be severely disrupted. The trains that will run are:
One train per hour Marylebone – stations to Oxford Parkway (and vice-versa)
One train per hour Marylebone – stations to Banbury (and vice versa)
One train per hour Marylebone – stations to Aylesbury (via High Wycombe, and vice-versa)
One train per hour Aylesbury Vale Parkway – stations to Amersham (and vice-versa)
One bus per hour Banbury – Leamington Spa – Warwick – Warwick Parkway – Dorridge (and vice versa; connecting WMT trains to/from Birmingham)
One bus every two hours Warwick Parkway – Hatton – Lapworth – Dorridge (and vice versa; connecting WMT trains to/from Birmingham).
– CrossCountry
CrossCountry’s services will stop running from midday on Christmas Eve.
Strikes are set to continue in the run-up to Christmas (Picture: Getty Images)
– Gatwick Express
On Christmas Eve services will finish much earlier than usual, with last trains departing at around midday on many routes.
Passengers should only travel if absolutely necessary.
– Great Western Railway
Trains will finish much earlier than usual on Christmas Eve, and customers will need to complete their journey by lunchtime.
Only travel if absolutely necessary on Christmas Eve.
– Greater Anglia
The last trains of the day typically finish earlier than normal on Christmas Eve. Trains will complete their journeys for the day by 4pm.
Customers are advised to avoid travelling if possible.
– Heathrow Express
Services will be disrupted on Christmas Eve.
Last train from Paddington: 3:25pm
Last train from Terminal 5: 3:12pm
Last train from Heathrow Central Terminals 2&3: 3:17pm
Aslef General Secretary Mick Whelan (right) at a picket line at Kings Cross (Picture: PA)
Most train services across the country will be severely disrupted, if they run at all (Picture: George Cracknell Wright/LNP)
– Hull Trains
A revised timetable is available online.
– London North Eastern Railway
On Saturday 24 December, the last trains running will be significantly earlier than normal.
Passengers are advised to check their journeys online.
– London Northwestern Railway
No services operate after 4pm on any of the lines, and buses will replace trains on the Abbey Line throughout the day.
– Northern
The advice is not to travel at all, but you can check a revised timetable online.
The picket line at Paddington Station in London (Picture: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
– Southeastern
As per their website, trains across the network will close by 3pm and the last trains will leave at midday on many routes.
– Southern
Services will finish much earlier than usual, with last trains departing at around midday on many routes.
They advise only travelling if absolutely necessary. No trains will also be running via Catford due to engineering works.
– Stansted Express
Stansted Express have advised customers to avoid travelling. The last scheduled train from London Liverpool Street is 2:58pm and 2:42pm from Stansted Airport.
– Transpennine Express
Customers are advised to avoid travelling where possible as the service will be running a significantly reduced timetable.
– Transport for Wales
Services will start to close down early on Christmas Eve. Check your journey online before setting off.
– West Midlands Railway
No trains will run after 4pm on any of the routes.
Meanwhile, several other strikes are to follow throughout December.
MORE : When are Border Force strikes and which airports are affected?
MORE : This Christmas could be one of the worst ever for NHS, health chiefs warn
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‘We’re not asking for a pay rise – we’re asking not to lose ground so we can afford to live.’
