Southern train strikes and engineering works in UK this week

Chiltern Railways has warned customers of the significant impact that industrial action by ASLEF and the RMT will have on its services next week. The strikes comprises of an ASLEF overtime ban between July 17 [today] until July 22, and RMT strike action on Thursday, July 20 and Saturday, July 22 respectively. 

On July 17, 18 and 19, the overtime ban by ASLEF means there will be an amended timetable in place.

This means service frequency will be reduced on some routes, whilst all services will finish earlier than usual.

National strike action by RMT union is also set to take place on Thursday, July 20, Saturday, July 22 and Saturday, July 29, affecting Thameslink services.

Customers are being advised to plan ahead and to check journeys before travelling between July 17 and July 30 during the days of planned industrial action.

Stations are anticipated to be busier during these days, with some customers potentially having to queue or not being able to board a train altogether.

RMT union chief Mick Lynch has said he has not met a Government minister since January despite strike action continuing. Amid talks between ministers and other unions, Mr Lynch told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “No contact. They seem to pick out the RMT as a special category where they can’t negotiate on a reasonable basis.

“They’ve certainly offered the others more than we’ve been offered. There’s no strings attached to those deals; we’ve got to accept a whole host of change and dilution to those terms and conditions, and job losses.”

Mr Lynch said strikes will continue until an agreement is reached.

flights from Birmingham airport will be cancelled due to 150 staff striking from Tuesday.

This will mark the start of summer travel chaos that will escalate with 1,000 check-in staff and baggage handlers at Gatwick walking out for eight days from July 28 to August 1, and from August 4 to 8.

EasyJet had already axed 1,700 flights, affecting 180,000 passengers, but an industry expert warns up to a million passengers could be affected if other operators follow suit.

Paul Charles, of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: “There will be many more flight cancellations from other airlines. There could easily be a million passengers whose flights are cancelled.

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Sarah H

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