Rail union set for talks but more strikes loom

THE railway drivers union has agreed to formal talks aimed at halting strikes, as hundreds walked out yesterday in the dispute over pay and conditions.

Nine rail companies were affected by Saturday’s Aslef strike, which left many of Britain’s busiest routes silent.

There are planned RMT strikes on the railways next Thursday and Saturday involving 40,000 workers, including 20,000 from Network Rail and the remainder from 14 train companies. London Underground will also take industrial action on Friday.

However, hopes that at least the drivers can resolve their dispute were raised yesterday as the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, confirmed talks would go ahead next week.

Steve Montgomery, the body’s chairman, said: “The good news is that we had informal talks with Aslef and there will be formal talks next week. That is a really good step forward,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“It is important we get round the table and we start to have meaningful discussions. It is really important we take this opportunity and try and hopefully prevent further strikes and get some result to this situation.”

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan confirmed the talks would take place but pointed out that the rail companies were prevented from offering a rise of more than 2 per cent without permission from the Government.

He said: “We find ourselves in a position where we are saying, ‘That won’t be enough’; [the companies] say, ‘It’s down to the Government’; we talk to the Government and they say, ‘You have got to talk to the employers’, and then we end up with a situation where it goes round and round in circles.”

Alslef wants a pay increase in line with inflation. Operators say such a rise can only be put in place if the union agrees for changes in working practices, including working on weekends.

Panmure Gordon stockbrokers estimates the four days of travel chaos could cost the UK economy £475 million.

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, is preparing to serve union bosses with section 188 legal warnings within weeks to force through reforms including guardless trains.