The drivers’ union ASLEF has called new strikes in England early next month.

The union said its members will strike at c2c, Greater Anglia, Govia Thameslink Railway, Southeastern, South Western Railway main line and depot drivers, and SWR Island Line on 7 May.

On 8 May there will be stoppages at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains, while on 9 May the stoppages will affect LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express.

ASLEF members will also refuse to work non-contractual overtime at most train operators in England from 6 to 11 May.

The union’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: ‘Our pay deals at these companies ran out in 2019. Train drivers at these TOCs have not had an increase in salary for five years. That is completely wrong. The employers – and the government – think we are going to give up and run away. They’re wrong. In the words of Tom Petty, we won’t back down.' 

The Rail Delivery Group said: ‘This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the ASLEF leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54 million a week just to keep services running.

‘We continue to seek a fair agreement with the ASLEF leadership which both rewards our people, gives our customers more reliable services and makes sure the railway isn’t taking more than its fair share from taxpayers.’

Meanwhile, the RMT has rejected a pay offer from Network Rail of 3.5 per cent, pointing to the latest increase in MPs’ salaries of of 5.5 per cent, but ASLEF has called off a London Underground strike which it had planned for 8 May, saying that ‘key issues’ had been ’successfully resolved’.