Rail passengers in England are preparing for a week of significant travel disruption due to a series of industrial actions involving train drivers and engineers. Starting from Bank Holiday Monday, May 6, a six-day overtime ban will be in effect, coinciding with three days of strikes from May 7 to May 9 by Aslef union members.

The industrial action involves train drivers at 16 companies and is likely to impact commuter routes into London and other major cities. Train services are expected to start later and finish earlier throughout the period of disruption. Additional disturbances include part closures of the Circle and District Lines and the DLR in London. Replacement bus services are being organized to help alleviate some of the travel disruptions.

This wave of strikes is part of a broader, ongoing dispute primarily regarding pay issues, where train drivers argue they have not received a raise in five years. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has made attempts to resolve the matters through negotiations. However, despite offers laid out to address pay concerns, formal talks have not progressed since Aslef rejected a pay offer in April 2023.

The Department for Transport and rail operators have urged cooperation from all parties to minimize the impact on passengers and resolve the dispute, which has become one of the longest in railway history, lasting 22 months so far.

Passengers are advised to check their journey plans in advance and consider alternative arrangements as these strikes and the overtime ban are expected to severely affect normal train operations across various regions of England.