ail passengers are being warned that recent strikes by practice drivers in a long-running dispute over pay will imply some areas could have no providers.
Members of practice drivers union Aslef will stroll out on Saturday September 30 and Wednesday October 4, coinciding with the annual convention of the Conservative Occasion.
The drivers will take motion in need of a strike within the first week of October which can even disrupt providers.
The strikes will have an effect on 15 practice corporations with providers on account of begin later and end a lot sooner than ordinary – sometimes between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
The provide to Aslef, which might take common driver salaries from £60,000 to £65,000 for a four-day week, stays on the desk, and we’re all the time open to constructive dialogue
The Rail Supply Group (RDG) mentioned operators will run as many trains as potential however there will likely be large regional variations, with some operating no providers in any respect.
It’s seemingly that night providers on some strains will likely be affected on the times earlier than every strike and morning providers can also be disrupted on October 1 and 5 as a result of rolling inventory won’t be in the suitable depots.
The RDG mentioned: “The rail trade is working exhausting to maintain trains operating regardless of the union leaders’ determination to reject a proposal which might give their members an 8% pay rise over two years, taking common salaries for practice drivers up from practically £60,000 a 12 months to virtually £65,000 a 12 months for, on common, a four-day week.”
Particular timetables for September 30 will likely be revealed on September 22 on Nationwide Rail Enquiries; and for October 4 on Wednesday September 27.
A spokesperson for the RDG mentioned: “We need to resolve this dispute and are conscious about the damaging affect it’s having on our passengers, our individuals and the long-term sustainability of the trade itself.
“We apologise to our clients for the pointless disruption to their journeys brought on by the Aslef management.
“The provide to Aslef, which might take common driver salaries from £60,000 to £65,000 for a four-day week, stays on the desk, and we’re all the time open to constructive dialogue.
“Nevertheless, at a time when trade is shedding £10 million a day post-Covid, its management should recognise the necessity to make modifications to how the trade is run, to each fund any rise and crucially, so we may give our passengers extra dependable practice providers, notably on Sundays.”
