RAIL strikes during the festive period look increasingly likely as Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said today that support among train drivers was “solid,” with many wanting to go “harder and faster” due to the lack of progress.

Joining striking workers who had brought a life-sized cut-out of the Where’s Wally? cartoon character with Transport Secretary Mark Harper’s face imposed on it as the Tory conference drew to a close, Mr Whelan said: “What we are seeing from the Tory conference is the managed decline of our railways.

“We are striking today because we still haven’t seen the transport minister or the companies for the best part of six months.”

Aslef members at 16 train operators in England walked out today, marking the 14th strike since the pay and conditions dispute flared up more than a year ago, leading to picket lines being mounted outside railway stations across England.

Many parts of the country had no services all day, including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern, Southeastern and the TransPennine Express.

Speaking at a picket line outside London’s Euston station, Mr Whelan said: “The mood of the train drivers is that we will keep striking until we get a resolution that suits them.”

Drivers are also banning overtime this week, which will also cause disruption.

The union said that train companies have always failed to employ enough drivers to provide a proper service.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: “There is a deal on the table for Aslef that would take average driver salaries to £65,000 for a four-day week – that’s more than double the average British salary and many drivers top up their income further by working overtime.”

The Department for Transport said: “The government spent £31 billion of taxpayers’ money — £1,000 per household — to protect rail workers’ jobs during the pandemic.

“There is a fair and reasonable offer on the table that would take train drivers’ salaries from £60,000 to £65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.

“Aslef’s leaders won’t put this offer to their members and instead continue to strike, damaging their own industry in the process.”