Some major railway stations London Closed on Thursday, airports such as Gatwick were cut off from any rail services strikes A critical stage had been reached.
Transport services to the British capital, operated by Thameslink, South and South East, have been completely disrupted.
Drivers representing the Aslef union went on strike after a long-running dispute over pay.
Britain has been plagued by walkouts for workers from train conductors to nurses to border control workers. inflammation. In retaliation, the Conservative government is drafting new legislation to force workers in critical sectors to maintain service levels while on the job. strike.
The shutdown was dubbed “Sad Thursday” by railway chiefs due to its impact on services.
There are no services at London Bridge, Victoria and City Thameslink stations. There are no services on the route connecting London to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.
Some train operators offer a very limited service, such as Great Western Rail, who provide one train per hour to Paddington station.
Passengers arriving or departing from the more distant Gatwick Airport must travel by bus or car. But most of the tickets for airport bus services are already sold out. There are also no trains to Luton Airport.
Bus services in west and south London have been hit by strikes entering a second day.
The Aslef union recently re-elected its members and now has a mandate to hold new strikes until June. Talks between union leaders, ministers and railway executives are expected to resume early next week.
Henry Blackwell is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. His work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism.