Even more train strikes to come -updated 20Dec

how hard is it to jump on a freight train when nobody's lookin' ?

Will need to allow for my guitar and bindle(stiff), of course

The next ASLEF Drivers strike is announced. 5th of January. Sandwiched between the two 48 hour RMT strikes on 3,4 and 6,7 January.

So the week, as described on the BBC, will be a full week of disruption with no trains running in most places and a skeleton service on some main lines in England.

Well I guess I am glad I didn't plan a trip to England or Scotland for my (January 7) birthday !!

Thank you for these updates Nigel.

I’m glad I didn’t plan my annual trip over there. With all the strikes, I may just stick with rental cars until things get settled.

Thank you Nigel. Just checked and we do have a LNER train trip planned from London to Edinburgh the end of January. I’ll watch.

I’m headed to the UK in early May—Edinburgh and York. I’m ignorant when it comes to things like labor disputes and train operations. So, I certainly appreciate your expertise in these matters and your willingness to take the time to provide updates.

It looks like currently, the route to and from Edinburgh and York is being handled with trains in Scotland and busses in England. So, that gives me hope I’d still be able to make this journey in the event of a strike. Of course, who knows what the situation will be come May.

Thanks again Nigel!!!

It looks like currently, the route to and from Edinburgh and York is being handled with trains in Scotland and busses in England.

where are you finding that? Not national rail enquiries?

HI Nigel, I was looking on scotrail for random dates in Dec. just to get a sense of journey times. I might have misunderstood the little icons. I thought the Scotland part looked like a train, but it’s possible that was a bus too.

The dates/times I was checking show either a train or bus from Wavery to Northallerton or Darlington and then a bus from there to York. And this alert comes up:

This LNER replacement is likely to be a coach or bus. These may not be
accessible, therefore if you have difficulty accessing stations or
coaches LNER will provide alternative transport. Assisted Travel Team:
03457 225 225 or 18001 03457 225 225 (Text relay service)

I was just happy to see traveling on this route was still possible despite the disruptions. I’m not traveling until May, so I’ll pay closer attention when it’s about 12 weeks out. I’m just trying to get a little familiar with the train websites and apps. Too bad I can’t use SBB for every country as that’s my favorite so far. 😊

That's confusing,

Tickets for May aren't on sale yet, nor are engineering works set yet. Are you looking for travel on a Bank Holiday?

Looking at a random date in February (the 16th) all the services are trains direct from Edinburgh to York. 2 and a half hours, calling at Alnmouth, Newcastle, Durham and Darlington on the way.

If I knew the exact date I might be able to shed some light....

Sorry nigel, I probably wasn’t clear on what I was trying to do.

When you mentioned above that strikes could continue for the next 6 months, that made me wonder what would happen in May if there were strikes then. I fly in and out of Edinburgh. When I arrive in Edinburgh, I will immediately take the train to York and then work my way back to Edinburgh. I was trying to get a sense for if I could get to York during a strike, or would I need to come up with a Plan B.

I thought I would check that route for Dec. because I thought I remember reading there were current strikes. I was looking to see if all those routes were cancelled because of the strike or were there options available.

I know the current situation might not be an indication of what May might look like. So, it was probably useless for me to look at the Dec. schedule and think that might be similar for May. Hopefully, come May, there will be no strikes and I’ll have that 2.5 hour train from Edinburgh to York and back. I guess I won’t know for sure until 14 days before my travel dates when any strikes would be announced.

Anyway, sorry if I caused you any confusion. The main point of my post was to thank you for the updates and keeping everyone informed. I probably should have left it at that. 😊