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Passengers braced for rail chaos Passengers braced for rail chaos
(39 minutes later)
Thousands of rail passengers are facing disruption after a train firm cancelled all but one of its Sunday routes because of a lack of drivers. Thousands of rail passengers are facing problems after a train firm cancelled all but one of its Sunday routes because of a lack of drivers.
London Midland relies on drivers volunteering to staff trains on Sundays but said not enough had offered to work this week so services could not run. London Midland relies on drivers volunteering on Sundays, but said not enough had offered to work this week so services could not run.
Rail users' groups called the situation "a shambles" and unions said it could have been avoided.Rail users' groups called the situation "a shambles" and unions said it could have been avoided.
An agreement where drivers were paid double on Sundays ended last weekend.An agreement where drivers were paid double on Sundays ended last weekend.
London Midland runs about 1,200 services with trains calling at 149 stations between London, the Midlands and the North West.London Midland runs about 1,200 services with trains calling at 149 stations between London, the Midlands and the North West.
As of Saturday, the only service expected to still be operating was the one between Birmingham and Liverpool. London Midland travel advice Virgin Trains accepting tickets on routes between London Euston and Crewe, Rugby, Stoke-on-Trent and WolverhamptonChiltern Railways accepting tickets on routes between Birmingham Snow Hill and London Marylebone Cross Country accepting tickets on routes between Birmingham and Nuneaton, Tamworth, Coventry and Stafford (for connections to London)East Midlands accepting tickets on routes between London St Pancras and Wellingbrough (running coaches to Northampton)Tickets also valid on National Express West Midlands and the Midland MetroNational Rail Enquiries number: 08457 48 49 50.
It's a shambles. How can they run an essential service on a voluntary basis? It's an astonishing way to operate a train service Shaun Hope, Northampton Rail Users' Group The only London Midland service operating is between Birmingham and Liverpool.
Replacement bus services will be provided on some routes and other rail companies have said they will accept London Midland tickets, but the firm has warned passengers not to attempt to travel by train unless necessary. Replacement bus services are being provided on some routes and other rail companies have said they will accept London Midland tickets, but the firm has warned passengers not to attempt to travel by train unless necessary.
Shaun Hope, of Northampton Rail Users' Group, based in one of the largest towns served by London Midland, said: "It's a shambles. How can they run an essential service on a voluntary basis? It's an astonishing way to operate a train service."Shaun Hope, of Northampton Rail Users' Group, based in one of the largest towns served by London Midland, said: "It's a shambles. How can they run an essential service on a voluntary basis? It's an astonishing way to operate a train service."
London Midland said working on Sundays has always been voluntary. London Midland said working on Sundays had always been voluntary.
"This weekend, so few have volunteered to work, that we have had no choice but to cancel services," a spokesman said."This weekend, so few have volunteered to work, that we have had no choice but to cancel services," a spokesman said.
'It's their choice' 'Their choice'
Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT), said the move was not organised action by workers but a case of the contractual right not to work being exercised. Bob Crow, General Secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT), said the move was not organised action by workers but a case of the contractual right not to work being exercised.
He said: "Their contracts of employment say they haven't got to work on a Sunday. It's their choice.He said: "Their contracts of employment say they haven't got to work on a Sunday. It's their choice.
London Midland need to pay their staff a fair wage to work anti-social hours - and get the trains moving again Mark Pritchard MP
"If someone wanted to work a Sunday because they're short of money and said to the employer 'I'm coming in this Sunday because I want some extra overtime', then the employer hasn't got to give it to him. Quite rightly so.
"But in reverse if the employee hasn't got to work on a Sunday and doesn't want to come in, he hasn't got to come in.
"They're not breaking their contracts of employment so what is the big deal?""They're not breaking their contracts of employment so what is the big deal?"
Mr Crow said he believed the situation could have been avoided if London Midland had told the union it had problems filling the shifts.Mr Crow said he believed the situation could have been avoided if London Midland had told the union it had problems filling the shifts.
'Somewhat irresponsible''Somewhat irresponsible'
Alan Bevan, West Midlands spokesman for Railfuture, which campaigns for better train services, said both London Midland and the drivers were at fault.Alan Bevan, West Midlands spokesman for Railfuture, which campaigns for better train services, said both London Midland and the drivers were at fault.
London Midland need to pay their staff a fair wage to work anti-social hours - and get the trains moving again Mark Pritchard MP
He said: "The current franchise operator has had the franchise for a couple of years now and knew full well when it took it on that there was this particular difficulty. And it should have been addressed then.He said: "The current franchise operator has had the franchise for a couple of years now and knew full well when it took it on that there was this particular difficulty. And it should have been addressed then.
"But I feel that the drivers are being somewhat irresponsible.""But I feel that the drivers are being somewhat irresponsible."
Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, who represents Wrekin in Shropshire, has asked the transport secretary, Lord Adonis, to investigate the circumstances behind the mass cancellations. Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, who represents Wrekin in Shropshire, has asked Transport Secretary Lord Adonis to investigate the circumstances behind the mass cancellations.
Mr Pritchard, a member of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, said London Midland made commitments to win its franchise and it should keep them.Mr Pritchard, a member of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, said London Midland made commitments to win its franchise and it should keep them.
"Hundreds of Midlands people use their trains for business and leisure."Hundreds of Midlands people use their trains for business and leisure.
"London Midland need to pay their staff a fair wage to work anti-social hours - and get the trains moving again," he said."London Midland need to pay their staff a fair wage to work anti-social hours - and get the trains moving again," he said.
In July, the RMT said it was balloting staff over strike action as station, clerical, retail, booking office and supervisory staff did not receive the same pay for Sundays as drivers.In July, the RMT said it was balloting staff over strike action as station, clerical, retail, booking office and supervisory staff did not receive the same pay for Sundays as drivers.
Have you been affected by the cancelled trains? Do you work for London Midland? Should working Sundays be voluntary? Send us your comments?Have you been affected by the cancelled trains? Do you work for London Midland? Should working Sundays be voluntary? Send us your comments?
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions