Southeastern has confirmed its train drivers are set to stage another strike in a fresh blow for passengers in Kent.

Members of Aslef will walk out on Saturday, November 26 after the union said it was still waiting for a pay offer from employers, despite a series of talks.

Staff at 12 operators will be taking part in the action as part of a long-running dispute over wages.

Southeastern has since confirmed its drivers are taking part in the action on November 26.

But the operator says there will be normal services on November 25, 27 and 28.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: "We regret that passengers will be inconvenienced for another day. We don’t want to be taking this action. Withdrawing our labour is always a last resort for a trade union.

"We have come to the table, as we always will, in good faith but while the industry continues to make no offer – due to the dodgy deal they signed with the Department for Transport – we have no choice but to take strike action again.

"They want drivers to take a real terms pay cut. With inflation now well into double figures, train drivers who kept Britain moving through the pandemic are now being expected to work just as hard this year as last year but for less.

"Most of these drivers have not had an increase in salary since 2019.

"We want the companies – which are making huge profits – to make a proper pay offer so that our members can keep up with the cost of living."

The 12 operators where staff are striking are Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; London North Eastern Railway; London Overground; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Transpennine Express, and West Midlands Trains.

Thameslink and Southern have confirmed its drivers will not strike, but services on these days between Tonbridge and Redhill may be affected and more information will be published "as soon as possible".

A post of both websites states: "As industrial action is affecting the whole country, we will be unable to provide alternatives such as taxis, additional replacement buses, and ticket acceptance with other local rail and bus operators on any strike day.

"Engineering works might take place on strike days. Journey planners will always include these details and will be correct no later than the day before travel."

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson says the company is "incredibly frustrated" the Aslef leadership has decided to take further strike action.

"We regret Aslef’s decision, which will cause real disruption to passengers and hit its members’ pay packets," they said.

"Instead of staging more counterproductive strike action which increases the very real financial challenge the industry is facing, we ask them to work with us to secure both a pay deal and the changes needed for it to thrive in the long term and improve reliability across the network."

Aslef members have taken a series of strikes in recent months, while the RMT and TSSA unions are also still embroiled in industrial disputes.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "It’s disappointing Aslef has yet again chosen self-defeating strike action when our railway is in urgent need of reform.

"This past week saw positive developments between unions and employers and planned strikes cancelled, so this is a frustrating backwards step.

"More disruption is not only damaging to the public and Aslef’s own members’ livelihoods but threatens the future of the railway itself.

"It has never been more important for all sides to work together and address the fundamental issues in front of us."