Rail users in and around Stockport are facing further disruption this week, as train drivers take industrial action in an ongoing dispute over pay. 

The strike action is organised by ASLEF, the trade union which represents train drivers. 

Stockport's main station was most affected yesterday (8 May), as drivers from Avanti, Cross Country, EMR, and GWR walked out. 

Today, stations throughout the borough will be further disrupted, as drivers from Northern, LNER, and TransPennine take action. 

Rail operators said that there will be no trains running on the strike days, with further disruption expected in the ensuing days. 

A quiet day in Stockport station (Image - Alasdair Perry)

Speaking in The Big Issue, ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said: "All the companies that we work for made hundreds of millions of pounds in the last 12 months or more, and apply that in dividends to shareholders, while the people who haven't had a pay rise, still haven't had a pay rise for half a decade."

The BBC reports that the Department for Transport (DfT) has offered drivers a pay rise which would take their salary up to £65,000 per year. 

A DfT spokesperson said: "ASLEF are the only union left striking after the government oversaw deals with all the other unions.

"Instead of causing passengers disruption, they should put this offer to their members and work with industry to end this dispute."

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