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Rail line hit by driver shortage Travellers hit by driver shortage
(about 8 hours later)
The Sunday service on an entire rail route into London's Kings Cross has been cancelled because there are not enough drivers to operate the trains. Travellers have faced long delays after a driver shortage led to the cancellation of an entire rail route into London's Kings Cross station.
First Capital Connect, which runs the Great Northern service, said not enough staff had volunteered to work overtime. First Capital Connect (FCC), which runs the Great Northern service, confirmed that not enough staff had volunteered to work overtime.
It is the second company this year to be hit by a train driver shortage. FCC said it was offering free parking and running bus replacement services to ease travel.
The union Aslef strongly denied it had orchestrated what amounted to an unofficial strike but said its members' choice not to work was understandable. Union leaders denied they had orchestrated an unofficial strike.
FCC is the second company this year to be hit by a train driver shortage.
Pay talksPay talks
BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds pointed out that the train driver's union Aslef is currently in pay talks with their employer and has already rejected two offers.
The union said the company had been running its weekend service recently on what it called "a lot of goodwill".
First Capital Connect (FCC) needs around 80 drivers to run the Great Northern service from Peterborough and King's Lynn.First Capital Connect (FCC) needs around 80 drivers to run the Great Northern service from Peterborough and King's Lynn.
But as is normal in the rail industry, the weekend shifts are staffed voluntarily by drivers willing to work overtime.But as is normal in the rail industry, the weekend shifts are staffed voluntarily by drivers willing to work overtime.
We regret any inconvenience this disruption will cause First Capital Connect statementWe regret any inconvenience this disruption will cause First Capital Connect statement
This weekend, just a handful have offered.This weekend, just a handful have offered.
BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds pointed out that Aslef is currently in pay talks with their employer and has already rejected two offers.
The union strongly denied it had effectively orchestrated an unofficial strike but said the company had been running recently on what it called "a lot of goodwill".
The company's other service, Thameslink, has also been affected by the work-to-rule.The company's other service, Thameslink, has also been affected by the work-to-rule.
FCC said it strongly advised against travelling by rail unless absolutely necessary, and added that tickets would be accepted on alternative bus and rail routes in areas including London's Liverpool Street and King's Cross, King's Lynn, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Bedford, Hitchin, Stevenage, Luton Airport and Peterborough.FCC said it strongly advised against travelling by rail unless absolutely necessary, and added that tickets would be accepted on alternative bus and rail routes in areas including London's Liverpool Street and King's Cross, King's Lynn, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Bedford, Hitchin, Stevenage, Luton Airport and Peterborough.
In a statement, FCC said: "We are continuing to work towards a resolution to these problems and to provide alternative transport where possible and will post any updates on our website.In a statement, FCC said: "We are continuing to work towards a resolution to these problems and to provide alternative transport where possible and will post any updates on our website.
"We regret any inconvenience this disruption will cause.""We regret any inconvenience this disruption will cause."
FCC, which employs around 600 drivers, said it was disappointed that there would be hardly any Great Northern trains on Remembrance Sunday.FCC, which employs around 600 drivers, said it was disappointed that there would be hardly any Great Northern trains on Remembrance Sunday.
It said it had contacted local officials of the Royal British Legion to warn them of disruption.It said it had contacted local officials of the Royal British Legion to warn them of disruption.
A similar refusal to work weekends in September caused disruption to another train company, London Midland.A similar refusal to work weekends in September caused disruption to another train company, London Midland.