Are there Paddington trains to Worcester this Sunday?

Simon Calder answers your question on rail strikes, seeing the northern lights, getting around central America and tipping

Rails strikes by the train drivers’ union are playing havoc with timetables this week (PA)

Q Regarding the latest industrial action by train drivers: I need to travel from London Paddington to Worcester. Great Western Railway says that even though there is no strike on Sunday 4 February, no trains will run on the route. GWR says to travel on Monday 5 February instead – but this is a strike day. This is chaos and it is impossible for customers to navigate the mess. Can you explain?

Nieve T

A The train drivers’ union, Aslef, is engaged in a long and bitter dispute over pay and working arrangements with the 14 English train operators that are directed by the Department for Transport. The union is demanding a decent no-strings pay offer, while ministers insist that even a modest pay rise from the current average of £60,000 per year to £65,000 is contingent on wide-ranging reforms – such as making Sunday part of the working week for all train drivers.