The London Underground is one of the oldest and busiest subway systems in the world, carrying over a billion passengers each year. But this holiday season, the Underground will be anything but busy as train operators belonging to the ASLEF union have announced a series of strikes in December. This industrial action is likely to be very disruptive for passengers as train companies will not be able to run their normal timetabled services.
You can make sure your travels within London won’t be impacted by London underground strikes by staying informed about the strikes to take place beforehand. To stay ahead of changes, you can also use the National Rail’s journey planner to see when trains are running.
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When does the December Underground strikes start?
The first strike in December will take place between December 2 and December 8. Strike action is expected to take place on Saturday 2, Sunday 3 Tuesday 5, Wednesday 6, Thursday 7 and Friday 8 December 2023, as each train operator will stop or reduce services on different days.
On top of that, ASLEF drivers will not work overtime from December 1 to December 9 as there will be an overtime as well which is also likely to impact services. However, not all ASLEF workers will be on strike for that entire month and different train companies will see strikes on different days.
The strikes will affect services on 17 train firms listed below. Operators say they will run ‘as many trains as possible’ throughout the period, but officials say there are expected to be a wide regional variations, with some operators running no services at all on strike days.
Affected Train Lines: Reduced and Canceled Services
The ASLEF strike will influence different networks on various days in December. Here’s a quick rundown of the affected lines:
- December 2: East Midlands Railway, London North Eastern Railway
- December 3: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, Great Northern Thameslink, West Midlands Trains
- December 5: C2C, Greater Anglia including Stansted Express
- December 6: Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway (main line and depot), Island Line
- December 7: CrossCountry, Great Western Railway
- December 8: Northern, TPT
The most widespread strike will take commence on December 3. Services that are running on strike days will start later and finish much earlier than usual – typically running between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
Using Ticket on Another Day Due to Rail Strikes
If you changed your mind or likely to be influenced by the strikes, you will be able to travel one day before and until a few days later your original travel date, depending on the rail operator you purchased the ticket from. However, this may not be applicable for season tickets.
How to Claim Compensation for Train Strikes
Most operators will offer compensation to their customers if they are affected by the strikes, however, the compensation figure will vary depending on the ticket type and the scheme the operator implemented. Currently, most operators follow their regular “Delay repay” schemes to make up for the difficult time the strikes may cause to their customers.
5 Steps to Claim Compensation for Rail Strikes
By following these 5 steps, you can easily submit your compensation claim for all the operators by the National Rail website.
- When the delay or cancellation took place, take a note of your train time and the reason of delay or cancellation.
- Take a picture or scan your tickets and purchasing receipts.
- On the National Rail website, find the operator you wish to claim compensation from.
- You will find multiple links to each operator and help topics, from “assisted travel” to “lost property”. You should select “tickets” or “refund” to find the relevant page which will redirect you to the compensation rules and further steps.
- Complete and submit the forms on the website.
Please note that normally, you have 28 days to complete your compensation claim.
ASLEF’s Strike Schedule: A Quick Look
- The 24-hour strikes by ASLEF will take place between December 2 and December 8. However, not every ASLEF worker will participate in the strikes throughout this period, and the impact will vary across different train companies.
- In addition to the strikes, ASLEF drivers will abstain from overtime work from December 1 to December 9.
- Affected Routes and Services:
- Reduced services on various routes, including Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street, Oxford, Aylesbury (via High Wycombe), and others.
- No service on certain routes like Stourbridge Junction to Birmingham Moor Street.
- Early finishing of all routes.
- Ticketing and Refunds:
- Advance tickets have been removed for sale on certain days.
- Options for refunds and ticket changes are available under specific conditions.
- No alternative transport solutions like rail replacement buses will be provided.
- Customers with season tickets and Flexi Season tickets have specific compensation and refund options.
Will London’s Tube be affected by strikes?
Last month, a five per cent pay rise was approved and thus the Union called off the planned strike for its Tube driver members. This means that Underground walkouts was decided to not go ahead. However, on November 28 The RMT, which represents about 10,000 London Underground staff, as well as Unite and TSSA representing Tube managers also started reconsidering a potential strike for the TfL London tube service as well. RMT is currently balloting its members on possible walkouts. The result of the RMT ballot is due on December 19 – meaning the earliest a strike could be held is on January 3, as a fortnight’s notice has to be given. TfL’s problems could worsen if tube drivers represented by ASLEF also reject the deal. However Aslef leaders have recommended the offer be accepted, as it follows an 8.4 per cent rise last year. Its referendum is due to close on December 11.
Will the Elizabeth line and the Overground be affected?
There are no plans for cancellations or disruption to Elizabeth line and Overground services.
What are the alternatives?
Passengers with advance tickets can be refunded without a fee if their train has been cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled – and this also applies to return tickets.
The Delay Repay scheme can be used by season ticket holders to be reimbursed for their missed days. It is also expected that the buses will be busier than usual.
Life in London Amidst Ongoing Train Strikes
The familiar rhythm of London’s daily commute is set for more disruptions as the city braces for another round of rail strikes. The upcoming industrial action, primarily led by the ASLEF union, promises a significant impact on both inbound and outbound train services across the capital, but, why are workers go on strike?
Understanding the Reasons Behind the Strikes
These strikes are part of a ‘rolling programme’ of action, a strategic move that is expected to exert more substantial pressure on the rail industry than previous strikes. It was urged by The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) which is the UK’s Train Drivers’ Union. Its 21,000+ members are employed in passenger and freight train operating companies, as well as London Underground and some light rail services.
The strikes are rooted in ongoing disputes over pay and working conditions. ASLEF has rejected a two-year pay increase offer, arguing it falls significantly short of the current inflation rate. The union is steadfast in its pursuit of a fair pay rise, emphasizing the need for a significant increase for train drivers who haven’t seen a wage hike since 2019.
ASLEF’s Planned Actions in Early December
The union urged workers to ‘give Christmas back to our customers’. Previously, ASLEF rejected a two-year offer of 4% in 2022 and another 4% this year, saying it is way below inflation, and is linked to changes in terms and conditions.
The union has already agreed wage rises with 14 companies in the past year, including freight operators, Eurostar and passenger operators in Scotland and Wales, so its only ongoing dispute is with English train companies.
ASLEF drivers have resolved to refrain from any overtime work for a considerable period at the start of December, a decision that could compound the strike’s impact.
It announced this strike action shortly after the RMT union, whose members operate London Underground, confirmed it had reached a deal with train companies that could bring their strikes to an end.
The Ripple Effect Across the Rail Network
The strike action won’t just be limited to one union or one day. Both ASLEF and RMT unions have committed to a persistent campaign of industrial action, impacting rail services for at least the next six months. The situation is further complicated by the rejection of the pay rise offer from TfL by the RMT, TSSA, and Unite unions, signaling the likelihood of more strikes in the near future.
Navigating Through the Strikes: Essential Information for Commuters
As a commuter in London during this tumultuous period, staying informed is crucial. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming strike action:
Looking Ahead: The Government’s Role and Potential Resolutions
The government’s involvement and potential anti-strike laws could play a pivotal role in the ongoing dispute. Proposed legislation aims to maintain ‘minimum service levels’ during strikes, which might mitigate the severity of the strikes’ impact on London’s train services. However, this approach has raised concerns about infringing on workers’ fundamental right to strike.
The Union’s Perspective: ASLEF’s renewed strikes aim to intensify pressure on train companies and the government for a deserved pay rise, the first in over four years. Mick Whelan, ASLEF’s general secretary, highlights the crucial need for fair negotiations and the union’s resolute stance to persist with industrial action until a satisfactory agreement is reached.
Response from Rail Delivery Group and Government: “The RDG deems their latest offer as both fair and feasible, which would significantly raise the average driver’s salary. Meanwhile, the government criticizes ASLEF for not presenting this proposal to its members, with the Transport Secretary expressing perplexity over the union’s refusal and urging them to consider the offer.”
Stay Informed and Prepared
For those needing to navigate through London during the strike period, staying up-to-date with the latest information and planning alternate routes is crucial. Checking the respective rail operator’s official website for service updates and exploring alternative transportation options can help mitigate the disruption caused by the strikes.
The situation remains fluid, and developments are expected as negotiations continue. Keeping abreast of the latest news and announcements is key to managing travel during this challenging time.
