Train passengers in Essex prepare for disruption as strikes begin
Train drivers are beginning seven days of rolling strike action today
Train drivers are beginning seven days of rolling strike action today - in their long running dispute over pay.
Members of Aslef are launching a wave of fresh walkouts, as services are already being affected, due to a nine-day ban on overtime which started on Monday.
When are strikes taking place?
Tuesday 30 January, affecting:
Gatwick Express
Great Northern
South Western Railway (including Island Line)
Southeastern
Southern
Thameslink
Wednesday 31 January, affecting:
Northern
TransPennine Express
Friday 2 February, affecting:
c2c
Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express)
LNER
Saturday 3 February, affecting:
Avanti West Coast
East Midlands Railway
London Northwestern Railway
West Midlands Railway
Monday 5 February, affecting:
Chiltern Railways
CrossCountry
Great Western Railway
What does Aslef say?
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% of services.
But none of the train companies are using the new law, which the Government is also planning to extend to other sectors.
Labour has said it will repeal the law if it wins the next general election.
Downing Street expressed disappointment at rail operators who are not using the minimum service levels legislation.
"Fair and reasonable pay deal"
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.
"Now, the public rightly expect them to be deployed when strike action is called and for train operators to act in the best interests of their passengers."
Mr Sunak said Aslef should accept the "fair and reasonable pay deal that remains on the table".
"It's frustrating that yet again, Aslef's leadership have shown no interest in resolving this dispute while continuing their campaign of contempt for British passengers and taxpayers, who have subsidised the railways with £12 billion in the past year alone," he said.
"The choice for Aslef is clear - continue this act of self-harm to their industry and drive more passengers away from the railways, or they can accept the fair and reasonable pay deal that remains on the table."
What does the Department for Transport say?
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Aslef's leadership is refusing to let their members vote on an offer that would see the average train driver's salary increase to £65,000.
"The Transport Secretary and Rail Minister have already facilitated talks that led to this fair and reasonable offer from industry. Aslef bosses should put it to their members so we can resolve the dispute, which has already happened with the RMT, TSSA and Unite unions.
"With passenger revenues not having recovered since the pandemic, the taxpayer has had to prop up the railways with £12 billion in the past year alone - these strikes will not change the need for urgent workplace reforms that Aslef continue to block."