No trains across North Yorkshire due to strikes
Train companies are warning people who are thinking of taking the train
People across North Yorkshire are being warned there will not be any trains today.
Northern and TransPennine Express, which operates services around the county and to and from the coast, say it is due to strike action and are urging customers to plan ahead.
Drivers from the ASLEF union are walking out today (Saturday 30th September) and Wednesday 4th October, which will bring services to a halt.
Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Service and Operations Director at TransPennine Express, said: “Unfortunately, the further strike action will once again, cause severe disruption to our services, as well as those across the country.
“Sadly, we won’t be able to run any trains at all on the strike dates, with a very limited timetable in place on the days following each strike.”
There will also be action short of a strike by the ASLEF union between Monday 2nd October and Friday 6th October which is expected to cause disruption to TransPennine Express and Northern services.
Kathryn added: “We expect the action short of a strike to cause widespread 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.”
Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “We apologise in advance for the significant disruption and inconvenience this action by ASLEF will cause to our customers.
"We hope to see a resolution to this issue in the near future and an end to the disruption these strikes cause."
For more information about the strke and services that will be affected, people should visit the TransPennine Express website or the Northern website.
ASLEF union
The union said train companies have always failed to employ enough drivers to provide a proper service.
Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, told the PA news agency that the Government was preventing a settlement to the year-long dispute.
He said: "Our members have not had a pay rise for four years - since 2019 - and that's not right when prices have soared in that time.
"Train drivers, perfectly reasonably, want to be able to buy now what they could buy four years ago."
He accused Transport Secretary Mark Harper of "hiding", saying the two had not met since last December despite a series of strikes this year which have caused huge disruption.
"He holds the purse strings. The train operating companies have told us they cannot act without his say-so. He's the puppet master, but he's in hiding."
A spokesperson for Rail Delivery Group said: "Our offer to Aslef would take average driver salaries to £65,000 for a four-day week - that's more than double the average UK salary and many drivers top up their income further by working overtime.
"We are ready and willing to talk to Aslef's leaders so we can end this damaging dispute but any talks about pay also need to address working practices that date back decades.
"The industry depends on a monthly injection of up to £175 million from the taxpayer because revenues are still 30% below pre-pandemic levels - while simultaneously facing unprecedented changes in customer travel patterns.
"It is obvious that the sector can only fund a pay rise by changing how it delivers services so it can respond to that transformation in how the public use the railway.
"That means putting managers - rather than unions - in charge of planning shifts.
"It means allowing managers to respond to unexpected staff absences so they can reduce the last-minute cancellations that so frustrate our customers.
"It means giving our customers more reliable train services when they actually want to use them - particularly on Sundays. That is how any industry survives and thrives."
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "The Government spent £31 billion of taxpayers' money - £1,000 per household - to protect rail workers' jobs during the pandemic.
"There is a fair and reasonable offer on the table that would take train drivers salaries from £60,000 to £65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.
"Aslef's leaders won't put this offer to their members and instead continue to strike - damaging their own industry in the process."