National Rail services in England are badly disrupted again today, as ASLEF stages the first of its 24-hour strikes this week.
Nearly all English operators are affected, with the exceptions of c2c and Merseyrail.
Although domestic services run by ScotRail and Transport for Wales are not involved, there is disruption to trains in Scotland run by Avanti West Coast and LNER, and in Wales to trains run by GWR and, again, Avanti West Coast.
Many routes have no service, and where trains can run they will be much less frequent than usual. Even these limited services will cease by around 18.00 at the latest.
Today’s walkout is set to be followed by an RMT stoppage on Friday and by ASLEF’s second strike on Saturday.
The disputes over pay and conditions appear to have reached deadlock again. The RMT has now gained the legal right to strike when it wishes between now and November, following a new ballot of its members, and the union has also gained a new mandate for industrial action on London Underground.