train travel updates birmingham

Delays to rail services in and out of Birmingham New Street station after police incident

• Birmingham New Street
• Wednesday 24 April 2024 at 11:46am

Passengers experienced delays in and out of Birmingham New Street station on Wednesday morning after police said they were dealing with an emergency incident.

All trains going in and out of the station were halted, but lines have now reopened with delays expected throughout the morning.

Network Rail says disruption will continue while it works to get all trains moving again.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…

Birmingham New Street warning over train strikes

Strike action is affecting services on CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Trains

• Published 4 April 2024
• Updated 5 April 2024

Rail passengers have been urged to check before they travel on Friday as strikes mean there will be no services to and from Birmingham New Street station.

New strikes are being launched by train drivers over pay and working conditions.

Staff at 16 train companies will take part in rolling one-day walk outs between Friday and Monday.

There would be no services on Friday to and from Birmingham New Street, Network Rail warned.

Strike action is running until Monday

Of the 16 firms, strike action by Aslef union members will affect CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Trains on Friday.

Passengers were advised to check their rail operator's website or the National Rail website , external for up-to-date travel information as some companies hope to run reduced services despite the industrial action.

Birmingham New Street station would be open from 07:00-20:00 BST on Friday for shopping, Network Rail added.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook , external , X , external , and Instagram , external . Send your story ideas to: [email protected] , external

Related Topics

• Rail travel
• CrossCountry
• West Midlands Trains

Related stories

Train strikes: How will you be affected?

• Published 4 days ago

Warning ahead of fresh round of train strikes

• Published 4 April

Related internet links

National Rail

Birmingham New Street live police incident blocks all lines as thousands stranded

Police have been dealing with the incident during rush hour. Avanti Railways say all lines have been blocked.

• Updated 10:08, 24 APR 2024

A police incident has left thousands of rail passengers stranded on trains and stations across the West Midlands. It was as a result of a police incident which shut down services at New Street in Birmingham this morning (April 24).

The giant Birmingham city centre hub has been brought to a halt with all lines blocked. No services have been running in or out of the station.

Avanti Railways said: "Due to an ongoing emergency services incident at Birmingham New Street, all lines are currently blocked. Cross-ticket acceptance is with @nxwestmidlands buses. @WestMidRailway @AvantiWestCoast @LNRailway @CrossCountryUK @tfwrail

In another post on X, formerly known as Twitter, National Express West Midlands said: "National Express Bus are accepting rail tickets on all bus services. This is due to an incident at New Street Station. Bus services may be busier than usual Allow more time to travel."

This is a live blog. Follow it below for the latest updates from our colleagues at Birmingham Live .

End of updates

We will be finishing our coverage here. Thank you for joining us.

Statement from British Transport Police

BTP have said they brought a vulnerable person to safety at New Street Station around 7.15am.

They said: "Officers were called to Birmingham New Street railway station just after 7.15am today (24 April) to reports of a person in a precarious position. Officers attended, alongside paramedics. A man has now been taken to a place of safety."

All lines are up and running.

Residual disruption throughout the morning

Lines in and out of New Street have reopened after @BTPBhm resolved an earlier incident There will be disruption throughout the morning while we work to get all trains on the move again ℹ️Please check with your train operator or @nationalrailenq for the latest — Birmingham New Street (@NetworkRailBHM) April 24, 2024

Train lines cleared but delays will remain

Transport for West Midlands have posted on X: "Rail lines at New Street have reopened. There is likely to be continued significant disruption as the timetables reform.

" Please consider delaying your journey, or using the bus and tram instead."

Most services delayed or cancelled

Our reporter is at the station says there aren't many passengers at the station due to services being delayed.

Nearly all services delayed through New Street

Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway at Birmingham New Street all lines are blocked.

WMRUPDATE 1> BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway at Birmingham New Street all lines are blocked. Ticket Acceptance with @nxwestmidlands on all routes. ℹ️ Delay Reapy> https://t.co/F3zXLSsMF4 https://t.co/c1cxzpLngT — West Midlands Railway (@WestMidRailway) April 24, 2024

Latest from Avanti West Coast

Description The emergency services are dealing with an incident at Birmingham New Street. So they can safely do their work, all lines are closed. As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. This is expected until 08:30. Customer Advice for Avanti West Coast: To help complete your journey, you may use your ticket on Chiltern Railways via any reasonable route. Check before you travel: You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner . Compensation: You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.

British Transport Police statement - incident on tracks

Good morning. All lines have been closed at Birmingham's New Street Station due to an incident on the tracks.

The British Transport Police said on X: "Officers are at Birmingham New Street Station this morning dealing with an ongoing incident on the tracks.

"For safety of all those involved there will be delays to planned journeys this morning in and out of the station."

Officers are at Birmingham New Street Station this morning dealing with an ongoing incident on the tracks. For safety of all those involved there will be delays to planned journeys this morning in and out of the station. Please check your train operator for updates. — BTP Birmingham (@BTPBhm) April 24, 2024

• Birmingham New Street
• Traffic and Travel
• Most Recent

Post Office chief ‘misled High Court about Horizon’

A former Post Office boss has been accused of misleading the High Court by claiming she did not know the Horizon IT system could be accessed remotely before 2018.

Dangerous driver on wrong side of road caused head-on crash

A dangerous driver caused a head-on crash by driving on the wrong side of a busy main road.

Russian actress who hosted 'almost naked' party fined for calling for peace in Ukraine

Anastasia Ivleeva fell foul of a law that sanctions remarks discrediting the Russian military.

Teen brother of girl arrested for Wales school stabbing taken into custody

Police have arrested the brother of a girl who allegedly stabbed two teachers and a pupil at a high school in Wales, The Telegraph understands.

Rayner’s brother refuses to answer questions after claims she was his ‘landlady’

Angela Rayner’s brother has refused to answer questions over the deputy Labour leader’s former council home as he was pictured for the first time since the scandal broke.

• Entertainment

Trains delayed or cancelled out of Birmingham New Street due to police incident

Train services running out of Birmingham New Street were delayed or cancelled this morning due to a police incident.

Watch more of our videos on Shots! and live on Freeview channel 276

Transport for West Midlands said all lines were blocked, however has now confirmed rail lines have reopened.

Passengers have been warned there is likely to be continued significant disruption as the timetables reform.

Officers from British Transport Police (BTP) were called to the scene following reports of a person in a 'precarious position'.

It has since been confirmed a man has been taken to a place of safety.

A BTP spokeswoman said: "Officers were called to Birmingham New Street railway station just after 7.15am today to reports of a person in a precarious position.

"Officers attended, alongside paramedics. A man has now been taken to a place of safety."

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 7.10am to an incident at Birmingham New Street Station.

"One ambulance attended the scene. Upon arrival we found a man. He was assessed by ambulance staff and was uninjured. He received self care advice before being discharged at the scene.”

Avanti West Coast said on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this morning: "Due to trespassers on the railway at Birmingham New Street all lines are blocked.

"Trains running through this station may be cancelled or delayed."

Transport for West Midlands said rail tickets were being accepted on National Express West Midlands buses.

It posted on X: "Due to an ongoing emergency services incident at Birmingham New Street, all lines are currently blocked.

"Cross-ticket acceptance is with @nxwestmidlands buses."

National Express West Midlands warned that bus services may be busier than usual.

Tata Steel to start voluntary redundancy process Plus Business | 6 hours ago

One of Britain's 'poshest' trains to steam through the West Midlands this weekend Transport | 13 hours ago

Men accused of knifing teenager to death tried to buy guns the night before, court hears Plus Crime | 3 hours ago

Plan to turn empty first floor of Walsall shopping centre into airsoft venue approved Walsall | 17 hours ago

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil: Don't judge us without the facts Wolves | 3 hours ago

• Live train & disruption info

Sign in for quicker bookings

Hmm, that's not quite right

The details you've typed are incorrect. Please try again.

Reset password

• Buy Tickets
• You are not signed in
• You have no items in your basket
• Season Tickets
• Child Train Tickets
• Family Train Tickets
• First Class Menus
• First Class Lounges
• Standard Premium
• Food and drink
• Travelcards
• Upgrade to Standard Premium or First Class
• Benefits of booking direct
• 16-17 Saver Railcard
• 16-25 Railcard
• 26-30 Railcard
• Family & Friends Railcard
• Senior Railcard
• Two Together Railcard
• Disabled Persons Railcard
• Jobcentre Plus Railcard
• Best Fare Finder
• Priority Ticket Alerts
• Our Price Promise
• School Groups
• TV production and film crew travel
• MICE (Meetings, Conferences & Events)
• Celebrations
• Group Travel Form
• Getting your ticket
• Upgrade your ticket

Download our app

• Club Avanti
• Avanti Business
• Refund your journey
• Our route map
• Manchester to London
• London to Manchester
• London to Glasgow
• Glasgow to London
• Liverpool to London
• London to Liverpool
• Birmingham to London
• Trains to Bangor
• Trains to Birmingham
• Trains to Blackpool
• Trains to Carlisle
• Trains to Chester
• Trains to Colwyn Bay
• Trains to Coventry
• Trains to Crewe
• Trains to Edinburgh
• Trains to Flint
• Trains to Glasgow
• Kirkham and Wesham
• Trains to the Lake District
• Trains to Lancaster
• Trains to Liverpool
• Trains to Llandudno
• Trains to London
• Trains to Manchester
• Trains to Macclesfield
• Trains to Motherwell
• Trains to Nuneaton
• Trains to Penrith
• Trains to Prestatyn
• Trains to Rhyl
• Trains to Rugby
• Trains to Runcorn
• Trains to Sandwell and Dudley
• Trains to Stafford
• Trains to Tamworth
• Trains to Telford
• Trains to Wellington
• Trains to Wigan
• Trains to Wilmslow
• Trains to Wrexham
• Trains to Milton Keynes
• Trains to Preston
• Trains to Shrewsbury
• Trains to Stockport
• Trains to Stoke-on-trent
• Trains to Warrington
• Trains to Watford
• Trains to Wolverhampton
• Anfield Stadium
• Celtic Park Stadium
• Emirates Stadium
• Etihad Stadium
• Murrayfield Stadium
• Old Trafford Stadium
• Stamford Bridge Stadium
• St. Andrews Stadium
• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• Wembley Stadium
• West Ham United Stadium
• Wrexham Association Football Club Stadium
• Trains to Aberdeen Airport
• Trains to Birmingham International Airport
• Trains to Bournemouth Airport
• Trains to Bristol Airport
• Trains to Cardiff Airport
• Trains to East Midlands Airport
• Trains to Edinburgh Airport
• Trains to Exeter Airport
• Trains to Gatwick Airport
• Trains to Glasgow Airport
• Trains to Heathrow Airport
• Trains to Inverness Airport
• Trains to Leeds Airport
• Trains to Liverpool Airport
• Trains to London City Airport
• Trains to Luton Airport
• Trains to Manchester Airport
• Trains to Newcastle Airport
• Trains to Newquay Airport
• Trains to Prestwick Airport
• Trains to Southampton Airport
• Trains to Stansted Airport
• Discover Birmingham
• Discover Chester
• Discover Coventry
• Discover Edinburgh
• Discover the Lake District
• Discover Liverpool
• Discover London
• Discover Manchester
• Feel good travel
• Feel Good Field Trips
• Trains to Birmingham Pride
• Trains to the Birmingham Sea Life Centre
• Trains to Birmingham Symphony Hall
• Trains to Blackpool Illuminations
• Trains to Blackpool Pleasure Beach
• Trains to Blackpool Sandcastle Waterpark
• Travelling to Buckingham Palace by Train
• Trains to Caernarfon Castle
• Trains to Camera Obscura Edinburgh
• Trains to Cassiobury Park
• Trains to the Chelsea Flower Show
• Trains to the Chester Christmas Market
• Trains to Chester Zoo
• Trains to Christmas at Kew
• Trains to Coventry Cathedral
• Trains to Creamfields
• Trains to Crufts
• Trains to Drayton Manor
• Trains to Edinburgh Castle
• Trains to Edinburgh Fringe Festival
• Trains to Edinburgh's Hogmanay
• Trains to Edinburgh Zoo
• Trains to the Glasgow Christmas Market
• Trains to Highest Point Festival
• Trains to Hogwarts in the Snow
• Trains to Kendal Calling
• Trains to the Keswick Mountain Festival
• Trains to Liverpool Cathedral
• Trains to Liverpool Christmas Market
• Trains to Liverpool Maritime Museum
• Trains to London Fashion Week
• Trains to London Pride
• Trains to Manchester Art Gallery
• Trains to the Manchester Christmas Market
• Trains to Manchester Pride
• Trains to National Museum of Scotland
• Trains to Notting Hill Carnival
• Trains to Parklife Festival Manchester
• Trains to RHS Garden Bridgewater
• Trains to Snowdon
• Trains to Tamworth SnowDome
• Trains to Tate Liverpool
• Trains to the Tate Modern London
• Trains to The Ashes
• Trains to the Christmas Market Birmingham
• Trains to the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III
• Trains to the Edinburgh Christmas Market
• Trains to the FA Cup Final
• Trains to the Grand National
• Trains to the Great North Run
• Trains to the Great South Run
• Trains to the Lake District National Park
• Trains to the London Christmas Markets
• Trains to the London Design Festival
• Trains to the London Eye
• Trains to the London Marathon
• Trains to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• Trains to The Shard
• Trains to the Six Nations Rugby
• Trains to the Tower of London
• Trains to the Welsh Mountain Zoo
• Trains to Trentham Monkey Forest
• Trains to TRNSMT Festival
• Trains to Waterworld Stoke
• Trains to Wimbledon
• Trains to the Women’s FA Cup Final
• Live Train Times
• Planned engineering work
• Set up disruption alerts
• Passenger Assist
• Accessibility hub
• Dealing with delays
• Click & Collect
• Seat Picker
• About our trains
• London Euston Station
• Crewe Station
• Manchester Piccadilly Station
• Oxenholme Lake District Station
• Glasgow Central Station
• Liverpool Lime Street Station
• Birmingham New Street Station
• Birmingham International Station
• Coventry Station
• Lancaster Station

Live Train Status

• Strike information
• Travel updates and disruption
• Early May bank holiday
• Help & Support
• Accessibility Tool
• Ticket types
• Ways to save
• Group travel
• First Class
• Standard Class
• Our destinations
• Travel Inspiration
• Day trips & events
• Plan your Journey
• Station Information

You'll get an email in the next few minutes with a link to reset your password.

If the email doesn't arrive in the next few minutes:

• Make sure the email address you typed is correct
• Check your junk or spam folders
• If the email address isn't already registered with us,
• Travel Information

Keep up to date with your train’s status with our train tracking tool.

Journey Check

Use our tool that lets you know via email or text which trains are likely to be disrupted.

Book your tickets on our app, save them straight to your device and never pay booking fees.

Check for planned engineering work

Find out more about planned engineering work on our route.

Track your train - new feature!

Our new train tracker gives you live updates on your train and lets you track other trains on the network. Let us know what you think.

Track live trains

Find, track and share your train using Signalbox's Live Train Map.

View live train map >

Live disruption updates

Track my train.

Whether you want to know what platform your train will arrive at, or it’s slightly delayed and you want to know when it’ll arrive, our app and website will always keep you updated, allowing you to track your train. Simply enter your journey details into our train tracking tool either on the Avanti app or website to find out everything you need to know about the status of your train. We’ll keep you updated with live train departures and expected arrival times so you can better plan your journey. You’ll also be able to see in advance whether there are any disruptions or delays to your train, so you’ll know ahead of time. Delays don’t often happen but sometimes they’re unavoidable, so our live train status tool ensures you’re prepared.  With our train tracker, you can also find out what platform your train is expected to arrive at, so you can be ready to hop on board and find your seat as soon as the train pulls into the station.  Whether you’re travelling to Glasgow, London, or somewhere in between, track your train for all of the latest travel updates to ensure you have a stress-free, comfortable journey.

Make train travel even easier with the Avanti West Coast app . The app is your best travel companion, enabling you to do everything from booking tickets to tracking your train on the go.  You can make seat reservations on the app, no matter whether you’re booking an Advance ticket or taking a spontaneous trip - either way, we’ll ensure you’re sitting in your favourite seat for your journey. What’s more, you can download mobile tickets directly onto your phone so you don’t need to carry paper tickets. Just show your phone at the ticket barrier, then jump aboard for stress-free travel.  And, of course, you can track your train on the app with real-time travel updates, so you’ll always be up to date with the latest information about your train journey.

• Download our app.
• Got a question? Contact Us .
• Download printable timetables .
• Check for planned engineering works .
• If you need help, we’re available 24/7 on Twitter .
• Delayed by 15 minutes or more?  Claim here .

Interested in...

Tickets to attractions

Be inspired

Check live train times

Book Passenger Assist

Check engineering works

Check station facilities

• Visitors Home
• What's On
• Getting Here
• Parking at the NEC
• Travel Updates
• Find a Hotel
• Food and Drink
• Destination NEC
• Accessibility
• Venue Protect
• Visitor FAQs
• Organisers Home
• Host an Exhibition
• Meetings & Events
• Space Search
• Exhibitors Home
• Products and Services
• Suppliers Directory
• Exhibitor Parking
• On Stand Hospitality
• On-Stand Hospitality
• Advertising
• Exhibitor FAQs

Travel updates

The nec campus includes the nec venue, birmingham international station, resorts world, resorts world arena and bear grylls adventure. journey alerts are listed below, please click on the alert for more information..

• The NEC is the UK’s best-connected venue, located at the heart of the UK.
• We have Birmingham airport and Birmingham International train station on-site.
• Located in the middle of the UK’s motorway network, 75% of people in the UK can reach us within three hours.
• Live events are the number one reason our visitors keep coming to the NEC, and our unrivalled transport links also come top of the list.
• We want to make it even easier for you to get here, and that means working with partners to improve our rail and road connections.

Please note: we are not located in or adjacent to the Birmingham Clean Air Zone but for more information on this and how it may affect your journey please visit  Birmingham Clean Air Zone .

• As we approach Autumn 2022, works will become much more visible on site.
• The NEC Campus will remain operational throughout, but you may come across changes on-site due to some major works taking place on the surrounding road network.
• Our travel updates page will contain any information you may need to be aware of.
• National Highways has a £282 million project to improve your road journey to our Campus.
• A new junction, 5A, will be created on the M42 to help you get better access to our site, and to divert current traffic volumes to other areas.
• It will be much easier for you to reach us, and to get home.
• As 2022-23 progresses, these works will become much more visible on site. This includes a new road which will travel directly underneath the NEC’s Southway, which links to the M42 roundabout.
• An extremely complex operation, it will require the Southway to be moved in two phases.
• Vehicles will be able to access and exit via this critical route throughout the time period, but there may be delays.
• In the longer-term, we have High Speed 2 coming to us.
• This is a complex and ambitious project with an estimated completion time between 2029 and 2033.
• This will see the first stop, only 38 minutes from London, located less than a kilometre from the NEC and directly connected by an automatic people mover linking HS2, the NEC, Birmingham International Railway Station and Birmingham Airport.
• This is a long-term project which will impact on our site operations as the programme of works progresses.  
• HS2 works will also continue both at the North entrance to site and on the roads to the east.    
• Early 2023, the NEC Birmingham will deliver one of the largest EV charging hubs in Europe in terms of number of charge points on one site. 
• The hub’s forecourt will contain ultra-fast 300KW DC chargers capable of charging 32 EVs at any one time.
• Served by 16 high speed DC chargers, each will be able to fully-charge a vehicle in 15-30 minutes, plus a solar canopy will help to generate electricity for the hub.
• Maximising on the locational benefits of the Campus, the hub will also be accessed via a new entrance from the main Campus through road, just off junction 6 of the M42 and close to the M6.   

Getting to the NEC is a breeze with our easy transport links, on-site train station and airport just next door. For more information about travelling to and around the NEC campus please visit our Getting Here page.

Birmingham train crossings to be made easier with new grant

• LAST UPDATED 04/22/24

Thanks to a new federal grant, Birmingham and surrounding communities are making progress in correcting many of its train crossing issues.

Last week, the Birmingham City Council authorized the Mayor to execute an agreement between the city of Trussville, Norfolk Southern Railway Company and Birmingham to undertake a project that will close at-grade railroad crossings and alleviate blocked crossings from Woodlawn into Trussville.

Matching funds from the communities and the rail transportation company made the $8 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements “CRISI” Grant possible.

Birmingham built around the railroad

“The city of Birmingham grew up around the railroad. We’re proud of that history and thankful for all of the prosperity that the railroads enabled. We’re embarking on this project to hopefully restore connectivity across Birmingham. This is the first phase of what we hope is a much larger long-term initiative.” Darrell O’Quinn, President, Birmingham City Council

According to O’Quinn, who also heads the Council’s Transporation Committee, the grant will plan and look at ways to replace or eliminate several crossings at 56th Street, 57th Street, 59th Street, Antwerp and Brussels Avenue. They will also explore an initiative to connect the Oak Ridge Park neighborhood and the Gate City neighborhood. 

Five years to complete the project

Fixing the train crossing issue in Birmingham and Trussville is not an easy task. It could take up to five years to complete.

“It’s a big step in the right direction, but I don’t want anybody to have the misconception this is going to be a near-term fix. There’s a lot of lead work that has to be done.”  Darrell O’Quinn, President, Birmingham City Council

O’Quinn listed the work that needs to be done:

• Traffic studies
• Geotechnical work
• Environmental remediation
• Community engagement

He also told Bham Now that the project should be going out for bid here any day now and that work has begun to submit a $2 million grant to fix the Western part of Birmingham that has been plagued by train crossing problems.

Have you experienced train crossing problems in Birmingham and Trussville? What do you think of the project addressing the issue? Let us know by tagging  @bhamnow  on Instagram!

Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

You might also like

The “Living Wall” exhibit at the Birmingham Airport replanted and restored  [PHOTOS]

Inclusion is good! See how United Ability changed Theo’s life + get one of these T-shirts now

NEW: $8.5M project expands public access to Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge + Cahaba Lilies

Latest traffic and travel news

Birmingham is a central transport hub for the UK. Get all your latest traffic and travel news here including incidents, accidents, crashes, delays and roadworks. The city is at the heart of the motorway network - with the M6, M5, M42 and M40 within easy reach. Birmingham New Street is the busiest UK train station outside London, and Birmingham Airport the third busiest airport outside London. There are also bus, cycle and canal networks, along with West Midlands Metro tram service

TRAFFIC AND TRAVEL NEWS LIVE FEED

Train strikes in May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

Rail lines are set for disruption in the week following the first May bank holiday as train drivers at 16 rail companies strike on different days.

Thursday 25 April 2024 10:29, UK

Train drivers will stage a fresh wave of strikes and overtime bans in May, causing disruption to the rail network.

The strikes are part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Aslef union at 16 rail companies will walk out on different days from 7 to 9 May.

Additionally, all members will refuse to work any overtime from 6 May to 11 May.

Here is a full list of the services affected by strikes and when.

Rail strike dates

Tuesday 7 May

Strikes will affect c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.

Wednesday 8 May

Strikes will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thursday 9 May

Strikes will affect LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.

Overtime ban dates

From Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May union members will not work overtime.

Overtime bans, an action short of a strike, means some services may not be running or may be reduced as drivers refuse to work their rest days.

People are advised to check before they travel, as some areas may have no service.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

How do strikes and overtime bans affect services?

Strikes tend to mean services on lines where members are participating are extremely affected or cancelled entirely, whereas overtime bans often lead to reduced services.

Are there strikes on the Tube too?

There have been regular strikes on London Underground too recently, and while there aren't any planned walkouts for drivers, customer service managers are set to walk out on Friday 26 April in a dispute over terms and conditions.

There will also be an overtime ban for the customer service managers on the following days:

Monday 29 April

Tuesday 30 April

Wednesday 1 May

Tuesday 2 May

Wednesday 3 May

Thursday 4 May

Friday 5 May

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) says the action by its members is likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including on the Saturday following the strike (27 April), while TfL has said on its website "some stations may need to close at short notice".

Despite the warning, a TfL spokesperson has said they aren't expecting significant disruption.

This action follows strike action taken by the same workers on 10 April, which the TSSA said had a "real impact" with "many stations shut at short notice".

They say they are "extremely concerned" about TfL's 'Stations Changes' proposals.

"We have made it clear that our union will not accept the continued threats to our members' roles, locations, terms, and conditions to stand unchallenged," a TSSA spokesperson said.

"We will continue to take sustained action until London Underground is prepared to negotiate with us in good faith."

Commenting on the impending strikes, a TfL spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that TSSA is continuing with this strike action following a consultation process.

"While we don't expect this action will cause significant disruption, we urge TSSA to continue to work with us to help find a resolution.

"There are no planned job losses as part of these vital changes which will improve the service we provide to customers at our stations."

How can I stay in the loop?

You can use the National Rail's journey planner to see when trains are running.

Be sure to check it close to when you plan to travel, as it will be updated regularly.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Why are the strikes still happening?

Aslef rejected a two-year offer of 4% in 2022 and another 4% this year, saying it is way below inflation, and is linked to changes in terms and conditions.

Aslef said train drivers have not had an increase in salary for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.

The union said after its members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue taking industrial action, it asked the train operating companies to hold talks.

General secretary Mick Whelan said the year-old pay offer of 4% and another 4% was "dead in the water".

Related Topics

• London Underground
• Rail strikes

What’s affecting traffic in the Birmingham metro?

B irmingham Water Works projects, pipe replacements, and pavement updates all have the potential to impact local commuters in the coming weeks.

Below are five ongoing construction projects that may impact your ability to get around next week or even next year:

Roundabout at Blue Lake Drive and Sicard Hollow Road

The city of Vestavia Hills’ social media pages said drivers should expect delays on Blue Lake Drive and Sicard Hollow Road over the next 8-10 months as they work to construct a roundabout at the intersection of these two roads.

Birmingham Water Works tie ins

Starting this week, Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard South in Five Points South will be closed between 8th Court South and 10th Avenue South. The closure will allow Birmingham Water Works to connect new water pipe to already existing pipes in the area, according to a recent release from local contractor Brasfield & Gorrie.

Work is expected to last through the month of May. Until then, the release said drivers should follow the detour signs placed near the closure.

Homewood paving

Over the next several months, the city of Homewood will be working on widespread pavement improvements. Through April 22, Raleigh Court, Gillon Drive, and Woodvale Lane will be impacted, according to the city website.

The site says residents should receive a flyer notifying them before work begins on their street and asks that Homewood residents park their cars in the driveway when the paving team comes to their street.

Pipe Replacement on Karl Daly Road

Karl Daly Road in Irondale will be closed until May 3 as Jefferson County works on replacing an underground pipe, according to the county’s social media pages. The county suggests that drivers detour using I-459 until construction is complete.

Sewer replacement in Crestline Village

According to the Mountain Brook city website, Memory Lane, from Country Club Road/Euclid Avenue to Montclair Road, will be closed until mid-May as Jefferson County replaces aged sanitary sewers in Crestline Village.

“With the closure of this intersection, alternate routes are available such as Montevallo Road and Country Club Road to Euclid Avenue,” the site reads. “Sidewalks and businesses are open! Detours and traffic control signage will be in place.”

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit al.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.