Passengers travelling on Good Friday are being warned of delays and cancellations as Hull Trains drivers go on strike over the dismissal of a colleague. The walkout, organised by the Aslef union, is part of a long-running dispute concerning safety reporting.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said the driver was unfairly sacked after raising a safety concern, adding that the company’s actions have “enormous implications” for rail workers and passengers nationwide. “Anyone who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fearing they will be penalised, punished, or lose their livelihood,” he said.
A Hull Trains spokesperson insisted safety remains the company’s top priority and that two offers for talks were declined by the union. “There are minor alterations to our timetable, with details published on our website. The majority of our services are still operating as planned,” they said.
The operator, which runs services between Hull and London King’s Cross, noted that most trains ran during previous strikes over the same dispute. Meanwhile, Network Rail’s Easter engineering works will also affect services, notably at London Euston, which will have no trains to or from Milton Keynes on Saturday and Sunday.
Air passengers face disruption from strikes by Gatwick Airport workers over pensions, while the Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning for the South West, prompting the RAC to warn of difficult road conditions over the bank holiday weekend.
