More rail disruption is expected in the coming weeks as train drivers union Aslef announced more nationwide industrial action.
Members of the group, who have been in a 16-month dispute over pay, have timed one of the strike days to coincide with the upcoming Tory conference.
Aslef announced its members of 16 train operators will walk out on Saturday, September 30, one day before the gathering, and on the last day of the conference, Wednesday, October 4.
The rail strikes will mean all services are cancelled on these days.
It has also announced a ban on overtime on a number of days, which will also bring disruption.
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The overtime ban will occur on Friday, September 29 and from Monday, October 2 to Friday, October 6.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “While we regret having to take this action – we don’t want to lose a day’s pay or disrupt passengers, as they try to travel by train – the Government, and the employers, have forced us into this position.
“Our members have not, now, had a pay rise for four years – since 2019 – and that’s not right when prices have soared in that time.
“Train drivers, perfectly reasonably, want to be able to buy now what they could buy four years ago.”
Recruitment website Reed estimates the average train driver salary is £48,000 per year, with a starting salary of around £30,000.
The highest salaries often exceed £65,000.
Rail companies affected by the strikes
Avanti West Coast
C2C
Caledonian Sleeper
Chiltern Railways
CrossCountry
East Midlands Railway
Gatwick Express
Greater Anglia
GWR
GTR Great Northern Thameslink
Heathrow Express
Island Line
LNER
Northern Trains
Southeastern
Southern
Gatwick Express
South Western Railway main line
Stanstead Express
SWR depot drivers
TransPennine Express
West Midlands Trains.
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