RAIL users face finding alternative ways to get to their destination today as another full day of strike action takes place.

West Midlands Railways (WMR) will not be operating on any route on Wednesday, (October 4), while Great Western Railway is warning of a "significantly reduced" revised timetable. 

It is the second full strike within days as last Saturday was also a strike day.

In addition, all this week running until Friday, (October 6), there is disruption as members of ASLEF union are staging action short of strike in the form of an overtime ban. 

WMR says there will be a reduced train service in operation between Birmingham New Street and Hereford on Thursday and Friday so passengers are being advised to check their journeys before travelling.

Worcester News: TRAIN: West Midlands Railway trains are not running at all on WednesdayTRAIN: West Midlands Railway trains are not running at all on Wednesday

The action is the latest in the long-running saga about pay and conditions.

Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “Passengers will need to find alternative modes of transport on Wednesday, October 4, as no WMR services will be in operation.

"Passengers should also check their journeys before setting out on days when action short of strike is taking place as journeys may be subject to short-notice cancellation.

“Anyone holding a ticket for travel on a strike day can use their ticket on a different day or claim a full refund.”

Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s general secretary, said: “While we regret having to take this action – we don’t want to lose a day’s pay, or disrupt passengers, as they try to travel by train – the government, and the employers, have forced us into this position.

“Our members have not had a pay rise for four years and that’s not right when prices have soared in that time.

"Train drivers, perfectly reasonably, want to be able to buy now what they could buy four years ago”.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: “Our offer to Aslef would take average driver salaries to £65,000 for a four-day week – that’s more than double the average UK salary and many drivers top up their income further by working overtime.

“We are ready and willing to talk to Aslef’s leaders so we can end this damaging dispute but any talks about pay also need to address working practices that date back decades."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The Government spent £31 billion of taxpayers’ money, £1,000 per household, to protect rail workers’ jobs during the pandemic.

“There is a fair and reasonable offer on the table that would take train drivers salaries from £60,000 to £65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.

“Aslef’s leaders won’t put this offer to their members and instead continue to strike – damaging their own industry in the process.”

For more visit wmr.uk/industrialaction.