UK October train strikes: When are the next strikes and how will the union industrial action impact the Tyne and Wear Metro?

Workers being represented by three railway workers unions are preparing for another series of strikes over the coming weeks with trains set to be impacted in a similar manner to what the country has experienced earlier this summer.

The action, which is being forced by rail workers as part of a row over job security, pay and working conditions, follows the largest rail strikes in 30 years across the summer with train journeys cancelled across the country in June and July.

When are the next train worker strikes?

The next rail strikes have been planned for Saturday, October 1 and Wednesday, October 5 by the ASLEF Union. The RMT will also be striking on Saturday, October 1 and Saturday October 8.

This industrial action from ASLEF will impact Northern Trains services as well as a series of other train providers across the country. These are:

Avanti West Coast Chiltern Railways CrossCountry Greater Anglia Great Western Railway Hull Trains LNER London Overground Northern Trains Southeastern TransPennine Express West Midlands Trains

RMT action is expected to hit the majority of lines across the UK.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, strikes on Thursday, September 16; Monday, September 26; and Tuesday, September 27, were cancelled, leaving unions needing to reschedule industrial action.

Action from the The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) was also suspended following the news of the Royal death and they are yet to announce dates for rescheduled strike action.

By UK law, unions need to give two weeks’ notice before taking part in industrial action.

Will the Tyne and Wear Metro be impacted by the rail strikes?

Much like previous industrial action, the confirmed upcoming strikes will impact the Tyne and Wear Metro. The impacted days are dependent on the unions taking action and the companies they are working for.

The majority of strikes earlier this summer were organised and backed by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) who service National Rail lines, including those between Pelaw and South Hylton.

As a result of this, the strikes held by RMT members will mean Metro services between Pelaw and South Hylton will be suspended on Saturday, October 1, and Saturday, October 8.

The second day of ASLEF strikes will not impact the Metro schedule.

Which rail worker unions are striking in October?

Three groups are expected to be heading to the picket line across this month, the first of these is ASLEF who represent train drivers and the second is the TSSA or Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, who represent workers across transport and travel including some rail, bus and ferry workers in addition to transport authorities.

The third union taking action is the RMT, or the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

This group is the union responsible for the majority of industrial action over the summer and is one of Britain’s fastest growing trade unions.

It represents the majority of workers in the public transport network.

RMT members are returning to the picket line after negotiations between the union and railway industry representatives saw no breakthrough following the previous set of strikes.