TRAVEL chaos will grip the country once more as train drivers prepare to strike.

After rejecting the last pay offer, the latest strike action will disrupt services for days.

What are the rail strike dates?

Aslef and RMT have called all their rail operators to participate in the strikes from May 31, 2023, to June 3, 2023.

The planned rail strike dates for May and June 2023 will see the action take place on:

• Wednesday, 31 May 2023
• Thursday, June 1 2023
• Friday, June 2 2023
• Saturday, June 3 2023

It is envisaged that the strikes will have a wide-reaching effect on services across the country.

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The day following strikes, now called "shoulder days", will see timetables running at 60% of their normal capacity.

When do the train strikes finish?

The latest round of talks between union bosses and train operators has seen a significant increase in the offer put on the table.

Union bosses rejected the last offer without putting it to their union members to vote.

Mick Lynch said: "It's not acceptable. It doesn't meet the demands in the dispute."

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Previously, an offer of a 4% pay rise over two years was suggested.

However, on January 17, 2023, the RDG (Rail Delivery Group)made its "best and final offer" to the RMT leadership.

This offer includes a pay rise of 4% from January 2023. and 5% (or minimum £1,750 rise) backdated to January 2022.

The deal includes changes to work practices.

This offer comes after January 6, 2023, an offer from RDG to Aslef of 4 plus 4 per cent rise backdated to 2022.

It includes no compulsory redundancies until March 31, 2024.

It is thought that the strikes have had significant costs to the industry as a result.

Which train lines are affected by the rail strike?

On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, and Saturday, June 3, 2023, thefollowing Aslef train operators are striking:

• Avanti West Coast
• CrossCountry
• East Midlands Railway
• Great Western Railway
• LNER
• TransPennine Express
• Greater Anglia
• GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink)
• Southeastern
• South Western Railway
• Chiltern Railways
• Northern Trains
• West Midlands Trains
• London Northwestern

There will also be a non-contractual overtime ban for Aslef on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

The RMT has called their members to strike on Friday, June 2, 2023. The aforementioned companies will be involved, as well as:

• C2C
• Elizabeth Line
• GWR

Heathrow Express will put on one train an hour on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, between 7am and 7pm.

There is no Heathrow Express on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

As a result of the strikes, there will be a knock-on effect on services on Thursday, June 1, 2023, and Sunday, June 4, 2023.

The day following strikes, now called "shoulder days", will see timetables running at 60% of their normal capacity.

Checking with local operators is advised to see how your journey is affected as the strikes are expected to cause nationwide disruption.

Will there be any more rail strikes in 2023?

Unless a deal is reached between unions and rail operators, it's likely that strikes will continue.

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At the beginning of 2023, Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT claimed that the government had blocked a deal to end the dispute.

He said that he is willing to negotiate but requires an offer on pay, jobs and conditions that their members can vote on.

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