FA Cup final travel plans hit with more train strikes looming

Supporters travelling to the FA Cup final look set to face disruption after train drivers announced three fresh strikes in a long-running row over pay.

Members of Aslef will walk out on May 12 and 31, as well as June 3 when Wembley hosts Manchester City's showdown with rivals Manchester United.

The union have rejected what they believe is a "risible" 4% pay offer from the 16 train companies embroiled in the dispute. 

Justifying the action, general secretary Mick Whelan stated drivers working for the firms in question have not had a pay rise since 2019.

He said: "Our executive committee met this morning and rejected a risible proposal we received from the Rail Delivery Group.

"The proposal — of just 4% — was clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10% and our members at these companies have not had an increase for four years.

"The RDG, in turn, rejected our proposals to modernise Britain's railways and help them run more efficiently, for passengers and for businesses, in the 21st century.

"Consequently, we have today announced three more days of strike action on Friday, May 12, Wednesday, May 31 and Saturday, June 3 at the companies with which we are in dispute, and which are letting down passengers, and taxpayers, so badly.

"We are also withdrawing non-contractual overtime from May 15 -May 20 inclusive, as well as on Saturday, May 13 and Thursday, June 1."

The train operating companies involved in the dispute are: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, London North Eastern Railway, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway, SWR depot drivers, SWR Island Line, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains.

The May 12 strike will be held the day before the Eurovision final in Liverpool.

A RDG spokesperson said: "This is disappointing news for our customers and staff, more strike action is totally unnecessary and will only heap more pressure on an industry already facing an acute financial crisis. 

"Senselessly targeting both the final of Eurovision and the FA Cup final is disappointing for all those planning to attend."