Train drivers announce new January strike date which will affect Sussex rail passengers

Train drivers across 15 rail companies will stage a fresh strike on January 5 in a long-running row over pay, the Aslef union has said, which will affect passengers in Sussex.

It will add to major rail disruption in the first week of January, with the RMT union already planning strikes on January 3 to 4 and 6 to 7.

A spokesperson for the RDG, which represent the train operating company said: "No one wants to see this strike go ahead, and we can only apologise to passengers and to the many businesses who will be hit by this damaging disruption.”

The larger RMT union is in a long-running dispute over pay, job security and conditions with both the train operating companies and Network Rail - which maintains the rails, signals and stations.

Meanwhile the rail industry is under pressure to save money, after the pandemic left a hole in its finances. Bosses say reforms need to be agreed to afford pay increases and modernise the railway.

The rail companies affected by the Aslef strike are:

Avanti West Coast

Chiltern Railways

CrossCountry

East Midlands Railway

Great Western Railway

Greater Anglia

Great Northern/Thameslink

London North Eastern Railway

Northern Trains

Southeastern

Southern/Gatwick Express

South Western Railway

SWR Island Line

TransPennine Express

West Midlands Trains

This means that rail services to and from major railway station in Sussex will be affected whilst the strikes take place.

Normal service will resume for rail passengers on Monday, January 9.

On Monday, Network Rail warned passengers to avoid travel on Christmas Eve when further strike action by RMT members is due to start. The walkout is scheduled to begin at 6pm on December 24 and continue until 6am on 27 December.

RMT members are also taking part in an overtime ban at 14 train companies which began on Sunday and will last until January 2.

The rail strikes come at a time of widespread industry walkouts across the country. More than 10,000 nurses walked out on Tuesday and ambulance drivers will take action on Wednesday.

Further strikes by Royal Mail workers belonging to the CWU are due to take place on December 23 and 24 - some of the busiest days for pre-Christmas deliveries.