Hundreds of thousands of bank holiday travellers are set for travel misery as drivers for CrossCountry trains have announced a fresh wave of industrial action.
The ASLEF union has confirmed that its members will stage a 48-hour walkout from 00:01 on Monday 6th May until 23:59 on Tuesday 7th May, crippling services across the long-distance operator's network.
Complete Shutdown of Services Expected
CrossCountry has warned passengers that no services will run on its network for the duration of the strike. The operator, which runs trains from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff, is urging customers not to attempt to travel on these dates.
This latest strike is part of a long-running national dispute over pay, which has now stretched for nearly two years without a resolution.
Union Condemns "Lack of Seriousness" from Operators
Alan Jones, ASLEF's full-time organiser for the Midlands, expressed his frustration at the stalemate. He stated that the union has not met with the train operating companies, or the government that stands behind them, for over a year.
"They are simply not serious about ending this dispute," Mr Jones said. "Every time we have a strike, the companies say they want to talk, but when we offer to talk, they don’t want to meet. It’s a classic case of bad faith negotiations."
Mounting Pressure on Ministers and Operators
The ongoing dispute heaps further pressure on both the train companies and the government. With a general election looming, the continued disruption to a vital public service is a potent political issue.
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, representing train operators, reiterated their call for the ASLEF leadership to put a fair and affordable offer to its members. They emphasised that the industry is committed to resolving the dispute but needs a reciprocal effort from the union.
Passengers planning to travel over the early May bank holiday are strongly advised to check the latest travel information well in advance and make alternative arrangements.
