Train stations abandoned as rail workers take to picket lines

Railway stations sit empty this morning as rail workers take to picket lines for the latest strike in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

The 24-hour walkout by members of the train drivers’ union ASLEF will be followed on Saturday by an overtime ban.

Today, there will be no services from operators, including Northern, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine, Southern and Thameslink.

Up to 20,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) at 14 operators will also walk out on Saturday, in their own dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

Fewer than half of trains will be running across the country on Saturday, with rail bosses warning of short notice cancellations.

Rail union boss: ‘We don’t want to hurt the public, but we have no choice but to strike’

On the subject of strikes, we’ve just been speaking with Mick Whelan, general secretary of the rail union ASLEF, whose members have walked out on strike this morning due to a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

Mr Whelan told Sky News: “It’s unfortunate that we have to take this action. 

“We don’t want to hurt the travelling public, but after four years and virtually, for some of my members, half a decade without a pay rise, we’ve got no choice.”

He said he last met Transport Secretary Mark Harper in December, rail minister Huw Merriman in January, and rail company bosses since April when they put what the union said was an unacceptable deal on the table.

Asked how much longer industrial action could continue, he said: “We’ll continue to get an equitable resolution to this situation.”

He said he is not worried about losing public support if strikes continue, citing the support he has received from members of the public at Euston station this morning.

He added: “I think people understand in the current day and age what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”