Summer vacations for travelers got off to a slow start this weekend, with serious delays in the UK.
The AA has issued their first-ever orange traffic jam warning, with queues already building up at Dover harbour.
Delays are expected to peak between 11am and 3pm today and tomorrow as families are all rushing to start their vacation.
Huge crowds have gathered near the Eurostar, where ‘staff bravely try’ to keep travelers calm.
Photos of a busy Manchester airport were also shared this morning as people are being asked to spend more time on their flights.
The train strikes also started this morning after members of the drivers’ union Aslef ran away because of wages.
Staff are calling for higher pay to keep up with the rise in inflation in the UK.
Unions have been accused of ‘walking underfoot’ during negotiations, while the government has in turn been accused of ‘lying’ to the public.
Today’s strike affects Arriva Rail London, Greater Anglia, Great Western, Hull Trains, LNER, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains.
There will also be no services on the London Overground network and no Night Overground services on Saturday evenings and the early hours on Sundays.
North of the border, Scotrail has confirmed services will not be affected.
The Rail Delivery Group said the union action is timed to coincide with the commonwealth games in Birmingham and the start of the new season for most English football clubs.
Steve Montgomery, chairman of the Rail Delivery Group, said: ‘Millions of passengers will see their weekend plans disrupted, especially those working, or going to the Commonwealth Games or the first football game of the season.
“While we will do everything we can to minimize disruption, if you are going to travel on the affected routes you should plan ahead and consult the latest travel advice.”
He added: “With further strikes, our people will come out of pocket and mean less money to fund a pay rise, so we are urging the Aslef leadership to resume talks so we can strike a deal.” that is fair to the workforce and taxpayers, and that provides a bright, long-term future for our railroad.’
But union leaders say strikes are needed to get workers a fair wage.
“Strikes are always the last resort,” said Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary.
“We don’t want to inconvenience passengers, our friends and families also use public transport, and we don’t want to lose money by going on strike, but we have been forced into this position by the companies, who say they are driven to do so by the government.” Tory government.
“Many of our members, the men and women who transported key workers and goods across the country during the pandemic, have not had a pay rise since 2019.”
He added: “We want an increase in line with the cost of living, we want to be able to buy in 2022 what we could buy in 2021.”
More union actions are planned next month by Aslef and the RMT in the stalled row over wages, jobs and conditions.
Montgomery made an open invitation to union leaders to meet with him to have “meaningful conversations” to resolve the dispute.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Transport Focus, said: “It is critical that the talks continue to find a solution that prevents passengers from being constantly dragged into this labor dispute.”
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