Train strike hits Northern and Transpennine Express services

Operators TransPennine Express and Northern said no services would run as drivers walked out

Many rail services across the north of England have come to a halt as drivers from Northern and TransPennine Express have gone on strike over pay.

Drivers who are members of the union Aslef are walking out on Wednesday as part of the long-running dispute.

The union has planned walkouts which will affect different operators across the country each day, until 5 February.

TransPennine Express (TPE) and Northern said there would be no services at all on Wednesday.

Services from both operators will be affected in the following days, as members of Aslef will refuse to work overtime until Tuesday 6 February.

Northern has warned of further disruption following the strike

• Why is there disruption on the railways?

Kathryn O'Brien, Customer Service and Operations Director at TPE, said: "Unfortunately, the further strike action will once again, cause severe disruption to our services, as well as those across the country.

"Sadly, we won't be able to run any trains at all on Wednesday 31 January, with a very limited timetable in place on the day after the strike."

She added the ban on overtime would also cause "disruption, delays and some short-notice cancellations".

"I would advise customers to check very carefully before they travel and to allow extra time for any journeys," she added.

Which train companies are affected on which day?

• Tuesday 30 January: Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Thameslink, South Western Railway and SWR Island Line

• Wednesday 31 January: Northern Trains, Transpennine Express

• Friday 2 February: Greater Anglia, C2C, LNER

• Saturday 3 February: West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway

• Monday 5 February: Great Western, CrossCountry, Chiltern

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: "We apologise in advance for the significant disruption and inconvenience this will cause our customers.

"We hope to see a resolution to this issue in the near future and an end to the disruption these strikes cause."

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan has previously accused ministers of not wanting to resolve the dispute, calling for the government and train companies to "come to the table with a realistic offer".

"At the time the strikes were announced, he said: "Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living," he said.

"Train drivers didn't even ask for an increase during the Covid-19 pandemic when they worked throughout as keyworkers, risking their lives to allow NHS and other workers to travel."