Bakerloo line no longer delayed
The Bakerloo line has returned to running a good service.
Blackfriars station closed
Photos show that Blackfriars train station is shut as strikes have brought Thameslink trains to a halt – except a severely reduced service between Kings Cross and Luton, Luton Airport and Cambridge.
Metropolitan line delays now minor
There are currently minor delays between Moor Park and Amersham / Watford due to an earlier points failure at Rickmansworth.
Hammersmith and City line no longer suspended
The Hammersmith and City line was part suspended – between Liverpool Street and Barking – but it is only facing minor delays now – on the whole line.
District line no longer part suspended but severely delayed
There are severe delays across the whole line because of a faulty train at Plaistow.
Circle line delays back to minor
Circle line delays were severe but they are now minor again.
What has Aslef said about why they’re striking?
The union has said: “We have negotiated pay deals with open access operators, freight operators and passenger operators in Wales and Scotland all whilst we have been in dispute with what is unfortunately a growing number of passenger operators, this has highlighted that this current dispute is one pushed by the Conservative Westminster Government as all of the employers who we are in dispute with are under the DfT’s control.
“To resolve the dispute as it now involves multiple employers, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) stepped in to handle negotiations on behalf of all the train operating companies. We negotiated in good faith with the RDG and believed a deal could have been reached. However, the offer that we received in April 2023 contained red lines which we had outlined to the RDG in our negotiations. This offer was made by the RDG with the intention of it being rejected.
“As requested in the offer, we informed the RDG that the offer had been rejected but they have refused to come back to the negotiating table which has left us with no choice but to continue with our industrial action.”
In pictures: Aslef strikers at Waterloo, Guildford and Orpington this morning:
What has the Department for Transport said?
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The Transport Secretary and rail minister have already facilitated a pay offer that would take train drivers’ average salaries up to £65,000 – almost twice the UK average salary.
“Aslef are the only union left striking after the Government oversaw deals with all the other unions.
“Instead of causing passengers disruption, they should put this offer to their members and work with industry to end this dispute.”
What has the Rail Delivery Group said about today’s strikes?
A spokesman for the RDG said: “The rail industry is working hard to keep trains running but it is likely that services on some lines will be affected on the evening before and morning after each strike between May 7 and May 9 because many trains will not be in the right depots to start services the following day.
“We can only apologise to our customers for this wholly unnecessary strike action called by the Aslef leadership which will sadly disrupt journeys once again.
“It will also inflict further damage on an industry that is receiving up to an additional £54 million a week in taxpayer cash to keep services running, following the Covid downturn.”
