Delays and disruption warning as train strikes begin
Avanti West Coast trains will not be operating on Wednesday
- Published
Rail passengers across Wales are to face disruption on Wednesday with train drivers from the Aslef union striking as part of a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.
Great Western Railway (GWR) services along the south Wales mainline will be 鈥渆xtremely limited鈥, according to the operator.
No Avanti West Coast trains will be running between Chester and Holyhead on Anglesey, while the CrossCountry service between Cardiff Central and Nottingham will also not be operating.
Transport for Wales, which provides all other train services in Wales, is not in dispute with Aslef and trains will be operating as normal.
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However, it warned services are likely to be particularly busy.
Aslef members at 16 train operators across the UK are taking part in the strike.
Three of those, which do not operate in Wales, will walk out on Thursday.
The union first balloted its members in June 2022, with numerous strikes and other industrial action taking place since.
Mick Whelan, Aslef鈥檚 general secretary, said: 鈥淥ur pay deals at these companies ran out in 2019.
"Train drivers at these train operating companies have not had an increase in salary for five years.
鈥淭hat is completely wrong. The employers 鈥 and the [UK] government 鈥 think we are going to give up and run away. They鈥檙e wrong鈥.
Great Western Railway said it will continue to operate limited services between Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads, however all other GWR services have been cancelled.
It also warned services in the days following the strike could be affected.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies affected by the strikes, said last month: "This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the Aslef leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra 拢54 million a week just to keep services running.
鈥淲e continue to seek a fair agreement with the ASLEF leadership which both rewards our people, gives our customers more reliable services and makes sure the railway isn鈥檛 taking more than its fair share from taxpayers."