West Midlands Railway and Great Western Railway disruption to services

Members of Aslef have launched a wave of fresh walkouts in a long-running dispute over train drivers pay.

Services are already being affected by a nine-day ban on overtime which started on Monday.

County rail users will be most hit on Saturday (February 3) when there will be no West Midlands Railway (WMR) trains on any routes running. 

TRAINS: West Midlands Railway

WMR said there will be a "reduced service on some WMR routes" with "remaining services subject to possible short notice disruption" throughout this week and next Monday and Tuesday (February 5 and February 6). 

On Sunday, February 4, WMR said: "Significant disruption and cancellations across the WMR network expected". 

Rail users are advised to check their journey before attempting to travel at wmr.uk/plan.

Great Western Railway (GWR) says its services could be caused short-notice alterations or cancellations throughout this week.

SERVICES: Great Western Railway

GWR said: "On Sunday, February 4, there will be significant disruption to services and customers should travel on alternative days.

"On Monday, February 5, a reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. 

"Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day."

WMR has said anyone who purchased a ticket before January 16 for travel between January 30 and Monday, February 5, can use these on any day up to Wednesday, February 7.  

GWR has also said any tickets for January 30 to Monday, February 5, can be used to travel on any day up to Wednesday, February 7.

Aslef’s general secretary Mick Whelan says some drivers have not had a pay rise for almost five years.

He has accused the government of “giving up” trying to resolve the row.

The strikes were expected to be the first test of the minimum service levels legislation, aimed at ensuring train operators could run 40 per cent of services.

But none of the train companies are using the new law, which the government is also planning to extend to other sectors.

Downing Street expressed disappointment at rail operators who are not using the minimum service levels legislation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the Daily Mail: “They’re available for train operators to use – a key tool that train operators themselves have asked for – to reduce the impact of disruption on passengers. They should now use them."

Mr Sunak said Aslef should accept the “fair and reasonable pay deal that remains on the table”.