More train strikes are on the way, the boss of the train driver’s union has warned, as passengers face a third consecutive day of chaos.
Thousands of trains were cancelled over the weekend (6 and 7 April) after a walk-out by ASLEF members crippled services at 16 major rail operators.
Previously, the union – which represents 96% of Britain’s train drivers – had accused employers “failing” to give members a pay rise in more than half a decade.
Yesterday – ahead of a third and final day of rolling strikes on Monday (8 April) – general secretary Mick Whelan said an agreement was unlikely.
“The reality is, we are going to ask for a pay rise, they are going to say: ‘We can’t give you a pay rise if we haven’t been able to settle the previous two years,’ but they are not going to settle for the previous two years, so what are we going to do?
“We don’t want another dispute but at this moment in time, it is very much heading along that line again.”