Passengers across the UK face further disruption this week as train drivers union Aslef and Tube workers union RMT begin another wave of strikes.

Members of Aslef timed this week’s walkout to disrupt the Conservative Party Conference. On strike dates, 16 train operating companies will be forced to cancel all services. Meanwhile, a Aslef ban on overtime on non-strike days will further disrupt the network.

The union has so far, called 13 one-day strikes during its 16-month dispute over pay.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “While we regret having to take this action – we don’t want to lose a day’s pay, or disrupt passengers, as they try to travel by train – the government, and the employers, have forced us into this position.

Our members have not, now, had a pay rise for four years – since 2019 – and that’s not right when prices have soared in that time.

“Train drivers, perfectly reasonably, want to be able to buy now what they could buy four years ago.”

London Underground workers, meanwhile, have announced fresh strikes in a dispute over job cuts and working conditions.