Further strikes are set to impact rail passengers.

Train drivers for both South Western Railway (SWR) and Great Western Railway (GWR), who are members of the ASLEF union, will strike as part of an ongoing pay dispute.

SWR drivers are set to strike on Monday, April 8, and GWR drivers will strike on Saturday, April 6.

Union members will also refuse to work their rest days from Thursday, April 4 – Saturday, April 6, and from Monday, April 8 – Tuesday, April 9.

The strikes will impact services to and from Weymouth and across Dorset.

A spokesperson for GWR said: “On Saturday, April 6, a reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR.

“Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.

“The days before and after strikes, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations.

“If you intend to travel where trains are running, please check before you travel. Trains that are operating will be busier than usual because we will not be able to offer the normal service frequency. Other train operators are also affected by this action, so onward travel could also be affected.”

ASLEF General Secretary, Mick Whelan said: “Last month, when we announced renewed mandates for industrial action, because, under the Tories’ draconian anti-union laws, we have to ballot our members every six months, we called on the train companies, and the government, to come to the table for meaningful talks to negotiate a new pay deal for train drivers who have not had an increase in salary since 2019.

“Our members voted overwhelmingly – yet again – for strike action. Those votes show – yet again – a clear rejection by train drivers of the ridiculous offer put to us in April last year by the Rail Delivery Group which knew that offer would be rejected because a land grab for all the terms & conditions we have negotiated over the years would never be accepted by our members.

“Since then, train drivers have voted, time and again, to take action in pursuit of a pay rise.”