*First published at Kent Buzz*
All train services for Kent residents have been cancelled today as a result of ongoing rail strikes.
ASLEF the nation’s union for train drivers issued a warning yesterday that no Southeastern, Southern or Thameslink services would be able to operate today in Kent.
This coincides with national industrial action, with today being the second twenty-four-hour rail strike this week.
Drivers are striking as part of the long-running pay dispute at fourteen train operating companies, leaving passengers facing disruption around Britain.
One passerby at Gillingham station said: “I had no idea that there’s a train strike. I’ve come all the way here thinking there’s gonna be a train cause I’ve got to get back to London, but the train stations are all shut.”
Another at Chatham station said: “All of my trains have been cancelled today due to the Southeastern strikes, which is really annoying because it means that I can’t get into work, all of my meetings have to be on Teams and I’m just sort of losing that teamwork you get in the office.”
Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary during public sector pension strikes in 2011, spoke on how Government should respond:
“No easy choices for ministers, and I think a race against time really to try and resolve things before the public starts to lose patience.
“It’s just exhausting to start to think about the disruption that we’re going to have throughout February”
No further strikes are planned by any of the rail unions, however ASLEF warned that further dates may be staged following disagreements in pay dispute negotiations.
Normal services are set to resume from tomorrow, with trains starting at their usual time. Morning services on many lines may also be disrupted on Saturday, as trains may be out of position after the strike.