Train drivers strikes april: Third strike in four days leaves services at a standstill on busy routes

Trains on some of the busiest routes in the country have been left at a standstill because of another strike by drivers in their long-running pay dispute.

Commuters on services into London were among passengers suffering Monday morning travel misery.

Members of Aslef walked out for the third strike in the past four days, crippling services, especially in East Anglia and the South East.

The action today is affecting c2c, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia, Southeastern, Southern, South Western Railway, Great Northern and Thameslink.

Aslef is embroiled in a near two-year long dispute over pay, with no sign of a breakthrough and no talks planned. Last week, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan told The Independent that April’s strikes won’t be the last.

The union says the dispute has cost the industry more than £2 billion, way more than it would have cost to resolve the conflict.

South Western Railway said a significantly reduced service will operate on a small number of lines, while the rest of its network will be closed. Trains will only run between 7am and 7pm.

Southern said there will be no trains running across the vast majority of its network, with a limited shuttle service running non-stop between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.

There will be no Thameslink services running, except for a limited shuttle service calling at Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and London St Pancras and another limited non-stop shuttle service between London Kings Cross and Cambridge.

There will be no Great Northern or Gatwick Express services. However, Gatwick Airport will continue to be served by the limited non-stop Southern shuttle.

Southeastern said most of its routes and stations will be closed. There will be an extremely limited service where trains are running and the operator advised customers not to travel.

A statement said: “If you do travel, expect severe disruption, plan ahead and allow much more time for your journey.

“Trains that are running will be extremely busy, they start later and finish early. You may be unable to board trains at some stations, and we estimate that there could be queues for up to two hours due to the very limited service. Only 29 out of 165 Southeastern stations will be open. No rail replacement buses will serve stations that are closed.”

No c2c trains…