Train strikes May and June 2023: Full list of dates, impact on London TfL and FA Cup final disruption

• Here is a full list of services affected by rail strikes on Wednesday May 31 2023

A number of rail services across the UK have been affected by the latest round of strikes on Wednesday May 31. 

The latest walkout by Aslef members comes after union members rejected a ‘risible’ 4 per cent pay offer earlier in May 2023. 

Two more strikes, on Friday June 2 and Saturday June 3, are set to derail passengers’ travel plans, including those attending the upcoming FA Cup final at Wembley.  

Which services are affected by the strikes? Is your train cancelled? Are London Underground services disrupted? 

Read on below to see if your usual train service is disrupted. 

London Waterloo, normally one of the busiest stations in the whole of the UK, was extremely quiet on the morning of Wednesday May 31 2023 due to the latest round of strikes by Aslef members. 

Avanti West Coast 

There will be no service on any Avanti West Coast routes on Wednesday May 31 and Saturday June 3, with customers warned they should not attempt to travel with the operator on these days. 

Caledonian Sleeper 

A statement on the Caledonian Sleeper website reads: ‘The RMT Union have announced strike action on 2nd of June and ASLEF Union will be taking action on 31st of May and 3rd of June.

We are pleased to announce all Caledonian Sleeper service remains unaffected and will be running as normal on these dates and tickets are on sale now. If you have any onward rail connections, please check with the rail provider prior to travel as they may be affected by the strike actions.’

c2c

Although the c2c network is only facing minor disruption as a result of the strikes, customers are advised that some trains will not stop at Limehouse.  

Chiltern

No trains will run across any of the Chiltern network due to strike action by Aslef on May 31 or June 3. 

On June 1 and 2, Chiltern Railways is urging customers to only travel if absolutely essential. 

On these days, trains will not call at South Ruislip, Northolt Park, Sudbury Hill Harrow and Sudbury & Harrow Road, and will only stop at Denham Golf Club during peak hours.

On June 2, passengers wishing to travel between London Marylebone and Amersham should use the Metropolitan Line instead. 

CrossCountry

Some CrossCountry services will be disrupted by the latest rail strikes. Customers should check the operator’s website for full details.  

East Midlands Railway

EMR has released a statement regarding the strikes, which says: ‘We will not be operating any EMR services on Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June. Do not travel.’

On Friday June 2, fewer trains will run on routes to and from London St Pancras, operating between 7.30am to 6.30pm. 

Luton Airport Express trains will only run hourly during the above period. 

Elizabeth Line

On Friday June 2, before 7am and after 7pm, there will be no service on the section between Maidenhead and Reading. 

There will also be no service after 11.30pm between Brentwood and Shenfield, whilst some trains on the route between Ealing Broadway and Paddington will not run.

Eurostar

Eurostar services will not be affected by the strikes, with services scheduled to run without disruption.  

Gatwick Express

From May 31 until June 3, the Gatwick Express will not run. 

However, passengers wishing to travel to or from Gatwick Airport can still use Thameslink or Southern services on strike days, but services may be busier than usual. 

Passengers wait outside London Victoria on the morning of another day of rail strikes, with two more set to follow at the start of June

Greater Anglia

On May 31, June 2 and 3, Greater Anglia and the Stansted Express will have a reduced service in operation. 

On June 2, the final trains on these routes will run in the late afternoon, with services terminating by 11pm on other days affected by strikes. 

The first train on these services will not run until 7am on all three days, with the Stansted Express only expected to run once every hour. 

Grand Central

Grand Central services are expected to run as normal on May 31 and Saturday June 3. 

However, some service alterations have been made for Grand Central trains on Friday June 2. Passengers should check the operator’s website to see if they are affected.  

Great Northern

Great Northern trains will not be in service on May 31 and June 3. 

On Friday June 2, there will be no service between Finsbury Park and Moorgate.

Services between Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City will only be in operation between the hours of 7am and 7pm to and from King’s Cross. 

Trains to/from Peterborough and Ely via Cambridge will start at 7am, with the last service at 7pm from King’s Cross. 

GWR

On May 31, June 2 and June 3, GWR will operate a reduced service there will be a heavily reduced service. 

Heathrow Express

The Heathrow Express will only run hourly on Wednesday May 31, with the line being closed on Saturday June 3. 

Customers should use the Elizabeth Line or London Underground if travelling to or from Heathrow Airport on June 3. 

Hull Trains 

Hull Trains are not impacted by the RMT & ASLEF industrial action announced for Wednesday May 31, Friday June 2 and Saturday June 3. 

LNER

LNER will be running a reduced service on May 31, June 2 and June 3.  

London Northwestern Railway (LNR)

On May 31 and June 3, no LNR services will be in operation. The rail operator will run a reduced service on June 2. 

Commenting on the decision by union members to strike, Aslef’s general secretary Mick Whelan said drivers at the above companies have not received a pay rise since 2019, stating: ‘Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG).

‘The RDG, in turn, rejected our proposals to modernise Britain’s railways and help them run more efficiently, for passengers and for businesses, in the 21st century.’

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, joins union members on the picket line outside Newcastle station on Wednesday May 31

London Overground

Services are expected to run as normal on the London Overground during strikes days in May and June 2023.  

London Underground 

The London Underground is also expected to run without disruption throughout the current strike period. 

Lumo 

Lumo services will run as normal during the current strike period. 

Merseyrail 

Merseyrail trains are not affected by the latest round of industrial action from the RMT and Aslef.  

Southeastern 

On Wednesday May 31 and Saturday June 3, no Southeastern services will run, but the operator intends to run a full service on Thursday June 1. 

On Friday June 2, a limited service will run on the Southeastern network.  

Southern 

No Southern trains will run on May 31 and June 3. People planning to travel to the Epsom Derby on Friday June 2 and Saturday June 3 may have to seek alternative routes as there will be no train services in the area. 

South Western Railway (SWR) 

On Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, a reduced service will affect some parts of the network. 

On Friday 2 June, a significantly reduced service will operate on a limited number of lines, with customers only advised to travel if their journey is essential. 

Thameslink 

There will be no Thameslink trains on May 31 or June 3. A limited service will be in operation on June 2. 

Transport for Wales 

Whilst TfW is not involved in strike action by Aslef and RMT members, the operator has warned that its services are likely to be busier than usual due to the reduced timetable in place from other operators. 

West Midlands Railway

There will be no service on West Midlands Railway routes on May 31 and June 3, with a limited service running on June 2.  

Wembley Stadium will play host to the FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United on Saturday, 3 June, as fans’ travel could be disrupted by upcoming train strikes

FA Cup final train strikes

With cross-city rivals Manchester United and Manchester City facing each other in an FA Cup final for the first time, tens of thousands of fans travelling down to London from Manchester could be affected. 

Transport Secretary Mark Harper stated: ‘It is deeply disappointing that Aslef has decided to call strikes and ban overtime, targeting thousands of people attending the UK’s first Eurovision event in 25 years – including Ukrainians displaced by Putin’s war – and the first ever all-Manchester FA Cup final.

‘The fair and reasonable offer from the RDG included urgent reform to ensure our railways are financially sustainable for the benefit of passengers, rail workers and the taxpayer as well as delivering a pay rise – for members whose salary already averages £60,000 a year.

‘Aslef need to call off these strikes and give their members a say on this offer.’

Full list of train strikes in May and June 2023

Wednesday, May 31 2023: Strikes by Aslef affecting national rail services

Friday, June 2 2023: Strikes by RMT will affect national rail services 

Saturday, June 3 2023: Industrial action by Aslef will affect national rail services 

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