TWO more days of strike action will impact Great Western Railway services running to and from Weymouth.

ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, has announced their members will go on strike at nine train companies - including GWR - on Saturday, August 13.

It follows a previously announced strike set to take place this Saturday - July 30.

86% of ASLEF union members working for Great Western Railway supported the strike action, on a turnout of 86.3%, in a dispute over pay.

GWR said the strikes would have “an even greater impact” than the previous RMT strikes that hit the railways earlier this month and in June - with no services running from Weymouth.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, said: “Strikes are always the last resort. We don’t want to inconvenience passengers – our friends and families use public transport, too – and we don’t want to lose money by going on strike but we’ve been forced into this position by the companies driven by the government.

“Let’s nail a Tory lie. Wage rises aren’t fuelling inflation. Excess profiteering is. But the government isn’t asking companies to cut profits or dividend payments to help manage inflation. Wages are chasing prices, not putting them up.

“We don’t see why we should forego an increase in salary to keep pace with inflation and help the privatized train companies make even bigger profits to send abroad.”

A spokesperson for GWR said: “Most parts of the GWR network will have no train service. Please make alternative travel arrangements and only travel if absolutely necessary.”

The only routes being run, and with “an extremely limited service” will be Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington, Reading to Oxford and Reading to Basingstoke.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, of which Great Western Railway is a member, said: “We want to see rail unions engage with train operators over the reforms needed to secure a bright long-term future for the industry, including working with ASLEF to deliver the more punctual, reliable services we know passengers care about. Instead of causing further disruption to passengers and businesses, we urge the ASLEF leadership to continue talks.”