Great Northern and Thameslink train drivers belonging to the Aslef trade union are staging a walkout on Sunday, 3rd December

A Thameslink train at Oakleigh Park Station

Rail passengers in Barnet are facing more disruption with another round of strikes shutting down two rail routes in the borough.

Services on the East Coast Main Line operated by Great Northern and on the Midland Main Line operated by Thameslink will see no services for 24 hours.

The train drivers’ trade union, Aslef, is in a long-running dispute with rail operating companies over pay and conditions and recently announced fresh industrial action for early December. The strikes will be spread out over several days, with different rail companies being hit on each day.

Both Great Northern and Thameslink are owned by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and the company’s drivers are walking out on Sunday, 3rd December. It means no trains will be stopping at New Barnet, Oakleigh Park or New Southgate stations on the East Coast Main Line, nor at Mill Hill Broadway, Hendon or Cricklewood stations on the Midland Main Line.

However, the strikes do not affect Transport for London’s (TfL) services on the London Underground, London Overground or Elizabeth Line. TfL struck a 5% pay deal with Aslef for its tube drivers last month.

Aslef train drivers have not had a pay rise since 2019. A 4% pay rise offer was rejected last year. In April this year, another offer was made that Aslef described as “risible”.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that Aslef are targeting the public and hospitality businesses at the beginning of the festive period, when there is a fair and reasonable pay offer for train drivers on the table. Instead of going on strike, Aslef should be following in the footsteps of the other rail unions and giving their members a vote on this fair pay deal.”

Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “We are determined to win this dispute and get a significant pay rise for train drivers who have not had an increase since 2019 while the cost of living, in that time, has soared.”

For more information about Great Northern and Thameslink services during the industrial action:
Visit greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/industrial-action

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