Yorkshire: Travel warning issued ahead of train strikes

Two train companies in Yorkshire have issued a “do not travel” warning, ahead of planned train strikes this weekend.

Northern and Transpennine Express have said they would not be operating any services on 6 April, while LNER will offer a very limited service.

Train drivers’ union Aslef said the rolling one-day strikes were due to members going five years without a pay rise.

Operators apologised to customers and said they were “disappointed”.

The action will affect 16 train companies across the country from Friday until Monday.

Cross Country and East Midlands Railway will not be operating any services on Friday and expect to be “extremely busy” on Saturday, due to Northern and Transpennine Express not running trains.

On Saturday, LNER will not offer services heading north from Leeds and their last train south from Leeds would be the 18:45 BST train to Doncaster.

Its last services from York would be the 20:08 BST train to Newcastle going north and the 19:06 BST train to London King’s Cross going south.

Aslef said the strikes would be coupled with a six-day overtime ban, to put pressure on operators and the government “to get train drivers the salary they deserve”.

Secretary general Mick Whelan said the union had called on all parties “to come to the table for meaningful talks to negotiate a new pay deal” but criticised their response.

Mr Whelan said: “Many members have now not had a single penny increase in pay for half a decade, during which time inflation has soared and, with it, the cost of living.”

However, Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “We are disappointed that Aslef has chosen to call yet more strike action and we would encourage them to work with the rail industry so we can put an end to this dispute.

“We can only apologise to customers in the meantime for the significant disruption and inconvenience this action by Aslef will cause.”