A strike by train drivers is crippling London transit today (Tuesday) and causing delays for travelers headed for the airports.
Members of the ASLEF union are on strike against the Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, Thameslink, South Western Railway and Great Northern railroad lines over the week of January 30 through Monday, February 5.
The union will hold two more 48-hour strikes on the London Overground, on February 19 and March 4. And on the London Underground, the Central Line is suspended between North Acton and Ealing Broadway due to a “points failure.”
The strikes are causing widespread delays for travelers trying to get to and from London airports.
London Heathrow is accessible on the Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth Line, and the Tube. But other major airports will be badly affected—with most trains canceled on strike days.
For example:
London Gatwick will have no Gatwick Express nor Thameslink service on Tuesday, January 30. Passengers headed to London can use a Southern shuttle service, nonstop between the airport and Victoria, or the GWR link from Gatwick to Redhill, Guildford and Reading.
London Stansted will have an hourly skeleton service on Friday, February 2, with “service alterations” on the other days.
Manchester airport will have a drastically reduced rail service on Wednesday, January 31, with only an hourly link on Transport for Wales to and from central Manchester, Chester and North Wales.
Birmingham airport is likely to be inaccessible by rail on Saturday, February 3, except for Transport for Wales from Birmingham New Street.
