Rail strike: Are trains in Birmingham running today?

Rail services across the country, including in Birmingham, have been impacted as thousands of union members are on strike over pay. The strikes will impact travel plans to Eurovision Song Contest Grand Finale in Liverpool for many.

The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) union - the trade union which represents 96% of the train drivers in England, Scotland, and Wales - have announced industrial action today (May 12) with two more strike days in the coming weeks. They will be on strike on May 31 and June 3.

Additionally, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) have announced industrial action tomorrow May 13 - when thousands of people were planning to attend the Eurovision Song Contest Final.

Furthermore, an overtime ban for ASLEF members will be implemented from Monday 15 to Saturday 20 May inclusive and on Saturday 13 May and Thursday 1 June.

Are West Midlands Railways trains running?

As a result of the industrial action services run by West Midlands Railway (WMR) including the Cross City Line are not operating today (May 12) due to the strike action, And tomorrow (Saturday, May 13) there will be a limited service from 7am to 7pm only - and some routes will not be served at all.

Saturday May 13 timetable

West Midlands Railway services will operate to a reduced timetable on the below routes only. Services will operate between the hours of 0700 – 1900. The majority of other operators are also impacted.

• Birmingham New Street – Northampton – London Euston (2 trains per hour Birmingham - London and 2 trains per hour Milton Keynes - London)
• Birmingham New Street – Birmingham International (1 train per hour via local stations)
• Birmingham New Street – Wolverhampton (1 train per hour via local stations)
• Birmingham New Street – Crewe – Liverpool Lime Street (2 trains per hour)
• Birmingham New Street – Rugeley Trent Valley via Walsall (1 train per hour)
• Birmingham New Street – Lichfield Trent Valley / Longbridge (amended service due to engineering works, buses replace trains between Longbridge – Redditch / Bromsgrove) (2 trains per hour)
• Kidderminster – Birmingham Snow Hill – Whitlocks End / Dorridge (2 trains per hour)
• Stourbridge Junction – Stourbridge Town (6 trains per hour)

Full list of train operators to be impacted by the RMT and ASLEF strikes

Friday

• Avanti West Coast
• Chiltern Railways
• CrossCountry
• East Midlands Railway
• Gatwick Express
• Great Western Railway
• Greater Anglia
• Great Northern
• Heathrow Express
• LNER
• London Northwestern Railway
• Northern
• Southeastern
• Southern
• South Western Railway
• Thameslink
• TransPennine Express
• West Midlands Railway

Saturday

• Avanti West Coast
• c2c
• Chiltern
• CrossCountry
• East Midlands Railway
• Great Western Railway
• Greater Anglia
• Great Northern
• LNER
• London Northwestern Railway
• Northern
• Southeastern
• Southern
• Gatwick Express
• South Western Railway
• Thameslink
• TransPennine Express
• West Midlands Railway

Travelling to Liverpool for the Eurovision Grand Final?

The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the Liverpool Arena on Saturday 13 May.

Merseyrail, who operate trains in and around the Liverpool area, will run late night trains on their Northern and Wirral lines on Saturday 13 May into the early hours of Sunday 14 May. The times of the last trains on each line can be found on the Merseyrail website. Merseyrail are not affected by the strikes.

Most (not all) of the other train operating companies that go to and from Liverpool will only have a very limited service during parts of the day due to strike action.

Please check via the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner before you travel that your entire journey will be possible on May 13. For journeys on 31 May, please check back after 24 May. For journeys on 3 June, please check back nearer the time.

What has ASLEF said?

The union said on its website that ASLEF members at “these train companies have been in dispute for almost a year over the failure of management to offer a fair deal on pay. Most of the drivers have not had a pay increase at all since 2019 and with inflation still well over 10% and the cost of living spiralling, this is not acceptable.”

What has RMT said?

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that while the rail companies were threatening passengers and rail workers with cuts, the companies made a fortune during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This strike takes place in the wake of a recent re-ballot of members working for 14 train operating companies which massively re-affirmed a mandate for further strike action.

“Throughout this dispute – which has gone on for over a year – the government has tied the hands of the railway companies and prevented them offering a fair deal.

“We are striking so that the employers and government can see the huge anger amongst rail workers is very real and they need to recognise that fact, face reality and make improved proposals.

“We are calling for the rail companies to get around the table with RMT and negotiate in good faith for a better deal for rail workers,” he said.