The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Strike action set to derail train services this weekend
CUSTOMERS TOLD TO EXPECT ‘SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION’
THERE will be significant travel disruption to train services this weekend as workers go on strike.
The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), a union which represents train drivers, has announced three separate days of industrial action.
The walk-outs will impact different train operators on different days.
Crosscountry, Northern and Transpennine Express have all warned customers to check their journeys before attempting to travel on the railway during the Easter school holidays.
A one-day strike by the ASLEF union means that no no Crosscountry services will operate tomorrow.
On Saturday, planned strike action at Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, LNER, Northern and Transpennine Express will lead to significantly busier Crosscountry services across the entire network.
The train operator has urged customers to only travel on Saturday if essential and to leave more time for their journey. It is likely that customers will have to stand for prolonged periods of their journey.
Crosscountry has also warned customers to check journeys in advance. This is due to changes to their timetables between today and next Tuesday.
Richard Morris, Crosscountry’s Service Delivery Director, said: “We’re sorry to customers impacted by this latest round of industrial action. While we’re working hard to run as many services as possible over these days, there is likely to be significant disruption for people planning to travel – especially on Saturday.
“I’d ask those planning to travel to check their journey in advance, as well as on the day. Customers can visit the Crosscountry website or National Rail Enquiries for the latest travel information.”
RMT have also announced strike action for their Crosscountry members on Saturday, April 13, the impact of which is still to be confirmed.
Northern
Northern has advised its customers to make alternative arrangements for travel on Saturday. The train operator says it will not be able to operate any services across the entirety of its network on that day.
Northern customers making journeys which include connecting services should check all legs of their journey. This is because other train operators face walk-outs by ASLEF members tomorrow and Monday.
Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “We are disappointed that ASLEF has chosen to call yet more strike action and we would encourage them to work with the rail industry so we can put an end to this dispute. We can only apologise to customers in the meantime for the significant disruption and inconvenience this action by ASLEF will cause.”
Transpennine Express services will also be brought to a halt on Saturday as a result of strike action.
They also expect action short of a strike to cause disruption to TPE’S services between today and Saturday and then from Monday and Tuesday.
The train operator is urging customers tto plan ahead.
Kathryn O’brien, customer experience & transformation director at TPE, said: “Unfortunately, strike action will once again, cause disruption to our services, as well as those across the country. Sadly, we won’t be able to run any trains at all on Saturday, and some services will be affected this week by further industrial action.
“We expect the action short of a strike to cause some disruption, delays and short-notice cancellations. I would advise customers to check very carefully before they travel and to allow extra time for any journeys. We’re extremely sorry for the impact this action will have for our customers and will do all we can to keep as many people on the move as possible.”
ASLEF has announced its drivers will take strike action at LNER this Saturday and as a result will be running a reduced service between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley and London King’s Cross and Leeds.