Greater Anglia and c2c severe delays next week as ASLEF members to go on strike again

There are set to be more major delays and cancellations on trainlines across Essex next week as train drivers are set to walk out on strike again in a long-running row over pay and working conditions. Due to industrial action by members of the ASLEF union, Greater Anglia and c2c services will be heavily affected on strike day on Tuesday (May 7) and action short of a strike in the following days.

During the action short of a strike on Monday (May 6) and from Wednesday to Saturday (May 11), a normal timetable will be in place for Greater Anglia routes, with most services operating on all routes, but with some planned cancellations. There will no service at all on c2c lines on Tuesday, with a reduced service for the rest of the week.

For Greater Anglia services on Wednesday, they will start later than normal with the first services on most routes beginning after 07:00. These services will be very busy, and passengers are advised to check before they travel and consider travelling at alternative times, Greater Anglia said

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On Tuesday, a full strike by ASLEF members will take place. A very limited train service will operate only on five core Greater Anglia routes and, with the exception of the Stansted Express service, for a limited period. Those routes and service patterns are as follows:

Norwich – London Liverpool Street: hourly

Stansted Airport – London Liverpool Street: hourly

Colchester – London Liverpool Street: hourly

Southend Victoria – London Liverpool Street: hourly

Cambridge – London Liverpool Street: approx. every 2 hours

Apart from the Stansted Express, these services will start much later and will finish earlier than normal. We expect these services to be very busy and passengers are advised to plan ahead or consider travelling on alternative dates. There will be no services at all on any other Greater Anglia routes on Tuesday.

Journey planners will be updated with exact train times three days before each strike date. Customers are also advised that strike action (see the list at the end of this release) and action short of a strike will affect other UK train operators between 6 and 11 May inclusive. Anyone travelling over that period is advised to check their journey details before they travel.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said: "Unfortunately, on Tuesday 7 May, no services will run at all on most Greater Anglia routes, with just an hourly service during normal operating hours on the Stansted Airport to London route and an hourly service for limited hours on the Norwich to London, Colchester to London and Southend Victoria to London routes, plus a few services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street.

“On the days affected by action short of a strike, the vast majority of services will be running as normal, but there will be some alterations and cancellations across our network and train services will start later than normal on Wednesday 8 May.

“Please note that an extensive engineering works programme will also take place on Monday 6 May and Saturday 11 May. This work is extremely important to help maintain the safe and reliable running of the railway and make it fit for the future. A rail replacement service will run while the work takes place. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these service alterations and advise customers to plan ahead and check before they travel.”

Rob Mullen, c2c Managing Director, said: “I’m really disappointed that an agreement with ASLEF hasn’t been reached. The impact of this ongoing action is significant for our customers and colleagues. I’m hopeful that further meetings with the unions are productive and see progress made toward concluding this challenging time for the railway.”

A Rail Delivery Group Spokesperson, said: “Train companies are working through plans to manage the unnecessary disruption to our passengers caused by this damaging industrial action – minimum service levels are one potential tool for that but they are not a silver bullet. In the meantime we remain committed to resolving this dispute and our offer, which would take average driver salaries to £65,000 for a four-day week without overtime, remains on the table.”