Train drivers are staging a fresh round of strikes – with all Southeastern services in Kent cancelled today (Tuesday).

Union Aslef announced a rolling programme of one-day strikes from today until next Monday which are expected to lead to travel chaos for passengers.

No Southeastern trains will run today, but the operator says there will be a full service on all other days during this period.

There will also be strike action by members of the ASLEF union at neighbouring operators including Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Thameslink and South Western Railway.

Alongside this is a self-imposed overtime ban by workers that will take place for nine days and started yesterday.

The union, which rejected a pay offer back in the spring, has been embroiled in an 18-month-long disagreement with bosses over pay.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We have given the Government every opportunity to come to the table but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It’s clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.

“Many of our members have not had a single penny increase to their pay for half a decade, during which time inflation has soared and, with it, the cost of living.”

It is not the first time the union has embarked on a programme of rolling strikes.

Industrial action by Aslef last took place across six dates in December – putting people’s Christmas plans in jeopardy – as union members in different parts of the country walked out on different days.

The strikes could also be the first big test of a new law introducing Minimum Service Levels during industrial action – which in the case of train services is set at 40%.

The new regulations mean employers can demand a certain number of staff work to ensure the company can meet that level of service – albeit it is not yet clear whether train companies will choose to implement the rules for this round of strikes.

Scott Brightwell, operations and safety director from Southeastern, added: “Strikes are designed to be disruptive and it is clear there will be changes to services across the country during this extended period of strike action and we are sorry for the inconvenience this will cause to customers.

"On Tuesday, January 30, there will not be any Southeastern services on any part of the network. In addition, strikes will be taking place at a number of neighbouring operators on the same day.

“I would strongly urge customers to check their journeys well in advance during this time.”

With more than 14 train operating companies affected by the latest action, strikes are set to take place on the following dates:

*Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Thameslink, and South Western Railway main line and depot drivers on Tuesday, January 30

*Northern Trains and TransPennine Trains on Wednesday, January 31

*C2C, Greater Anglia, and LNER on Friday, February 2

*Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, and West Midlands Trains on Saturday, February 3

*Chiltern, CrossCountry, and GWR on Monday, February 5