Rail passengers are bracing for a third consecutive day of significant travel disruptions on Thursday due to a strike by train drivers represented by the Aslef union. This industrial action affects services at 15 rail companies, with some regions experiencing a complete shutdown of train operations for the entire day.

The current strike follows a 48-hour walkout by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), which resulted in widespread travel chaos across the UK on Tuesday and Wednesday. As the situation escalates, reports suggest that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may announce new legislation on Thursday aimed at enforcing minimum service levels during strikes. The proposed measures could allow employers to sue trade unions and dismiss workers involved in industrial actions.

According to The Times, the legislation would likely apply to various sectors, including health, rail, education, fire services, border security, and nuclear industries. However, there are indications that the government is also considering a substantial pay rise for public sector workers as a potential resolution to the ongoing strikes.

In addition to the current strike by Aslef, the RMT is set to initiate another 48-hour strike starting Friday, continuing its dispute over job security, pay, and working conditions. Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, expressed concerns about the ongoing deadlock, stating that further strikes are “inevitable” unless substantial progress is made.

Whelan criticized both rail employers and the government for not taking meaningful steps to resolve the pay dispute, noting that his members are increasingly frustrated by the lack of a pay rise after years of stagnation. “We are in a weird world where the Government will do anything to keep private companies in the industry,” he remarked.

Among the operators expected to run no trains on Thursday are Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Northern, Southern, Southeastern, Thameslink, and TransPennine Express, leaving many travelers with limited options as they navigate the disruptions.