Rail travel disruption in Birmingham amid strikes & overtime ban - full details here

Train journeys will face disruption from today (Monday, July 17) as rail workers refuse to work overtime. This follows another week long overtime ban which commenced July 3 and ran until July 8.

ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, which represents 16 of the country’s 35 rail operators, announced last month that its members would withdraw non-contractual overtime. Some disruption is expected in Birmingham from today (Monday, July 17) until Sunday (July 22 ) as the union follows the overtime ban as a result of the ongoing national dispute over pay.

General secretary Mick Whelan said: “Train drivers don’t want to be inconveniencing the public. We want to resolve this dispute. We have given the government and rail operators plenty of opportunities to come to the table but it remains clear that they do not want a resolution.

“Our members - the drivers who keep the railway running day in, day out - will not accept the government’s attempts to force our industry into decline. Rail travel is a vital part of the fight against climate change. Rail connectivity is essential to the country’s economy. It’s time for a fair deal and a resolution so we can grow our railway and improve it for the future.”

Here are the rail services that will be affected:

1. Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways,
2. CrossCountry,
3. East Midlands Railway,
4. Greater Anglia,
5. Great Western Railway,
6. GTR Great Northern - Thameslink,
7. Island Line,
8. London North East Railway,
9. Northern,
10. Southeastern,
11. Southern and
12. Gatwick Express,
13. South Western Railway,
14. Transpennine Express and
15. West Midlands Railway

What has West Midlands Railway said

Monday 17 July - Saturday 22 July inclusive. During this period West Midlands Railway services will be subject to on the day cancellations/alterations as well as pre-planned changes to journeys. Here are the changes:

• Buses replace trains on the Leamington Spa – Nuneaton via Coventry line
• A limited rail service will operate on the Birmingham New Street – Hereford line (supplemented with rail replacement buses)
• Some services on the Birmingham New Street – Shrewsbury line will be subject to cancellation

Passengers are advised to check journeys before they travel, using our live planner tools (online and mobile app). Separately, members of the RMT trade union have announced they will take part in strike action on Thursday 20 July, Saturday 22 July and Saturday 29 July. On these dates West Midlands Railway will be running a reduced timetable and some routes will not be served. For more information, visit Transport for West Midlands website.