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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rail passengers disrupted again | |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Thousands of rail commuters in south-east England have faced the worst disruption in a week due to a pay row. | Thousands of rail commuters in south-east England have faced the worst disruption in a week due to a pay row. |
| Nearly half of First Capital Connect's 400 Thameslink services were cancelled on Thursday and again on Friday morning as drivers refused to work overtime. | |
| The company's plan to freeze pay this year and offer a minimum 3% rise next year has been described as derisory. | The company's plan to freeze pay this year and offer a minimum 3% rise next year has been described as derisory. |
| Junior Transport Minister Chris Mole called the action irresponsible and asked for it to halt immediately. | Junior Transport Minister Chris Mole called the action irresponsible and asked for it to halt immediately. |
| The action of the drivers is unofficial, although unions are to ballot for strike action which could affect Christmas travel. | The action of the drivers is unofficial, although unions are to ballot for strike action which could affect Christmas travel. |
| First Capital Connect confirmed that about half its Thameslink services were running on Friday morning. | |
| All services between London and King's Lynn and Peterborough were cancelled on Sunday. | |
| Fifty services in Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Surrey, Sussex, Cambridgeshire and London failed to run on Wednesday. | |
| And the disruption was at its worst on Thursday, with 200 services cancelled, First Capital Connect said. | |
| 'Held to ransom' | 'Held to ransom' |
| A spokesman said there had been an "escalation in cancellation in Thameslink services since Monday", forcing the company to introduce a new timetable reflecting the cancellations. | A spokesman said there had been an "escalation in cancellation in Thameslink services since Monday", forcing the company to introduce a new timetable reflecting the cancellations. |
| Mr Mole was called to the Commons after an urgent question was put down by the Conservative MP for St Albans, Anne Main, who said commuters were facing "absolute chaos". | Mr Mole was called to the Commons after an urgent question was put down by the Conservative MP for St Albans, Anne Main, who said commuters were facing "absolute chaos". |
| Mr Mole said: "Concerted action to stop trains running is irresponsible. | Mr Mole said: "Concerted action to stop trains running is irresponsible. |
| "Train companies need to ensure their staffing arrangements are robust, so they cannot be held to ransom in this way." | "Train companies need to ensure their staffing arrangements are robust, so they cannot be held to ransom in this way." |
| "The action by drivers on FCC appears to be coordinated and it is highly regrettable given that talks are continuing." | "The action by drivers on FCC appears to be coordinated and it is highly regrettable given that talks are continuing." |
| A statement on First Capital Connect's website read: "We are extremely sorry that a shortage of train drivers has forced us to cancel a large number of services on the Thameslink route. | A statement on First Capital Connect's website read: "We are extremely sorry that a shortage of train drivers has forced us to cancel a large number of services on the Thameslink route. |
| One commuter decribed the situtation as a joke | One commuter decribed the situtation as a joke |
| "To allow us to operate as consistent a timetable as possible over the coming days, we have introduced an amended timetable." | "To allow us to operate as consistent a timetable as possible over the coming days, we have introduced an amended timetable." |
| It added it was in ongoing pay talks with the drivers' union Aslef in a bid to ease the situation. | It added it was in ongoing pay talks with the drivers' union Aslef in a bid to ease the situation. |
| Aslef's Mick Whelan said the drivers were contracted to work four days a week, and the company had been covering the other three days on a goodwill basis. | Aslef's Mick Whelan said the drivers were contracted to work four days a week, and the company had been covering the other three days on a goodwill basis. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "People reacted and withdrew their goodwill on overtime on an individual basis because of what is seen as a rather derisory pay offer. | |
| "I'd imagine there was a degree of peer pressure but the reality is, it only takes a small amount of drivers based upon the shift system to disrupt the service unfortunately." | |
| 'Irresponsible game-playing' | 'Irresponsible game-playing' |
| He added: "We have been arguing for two years for full employment, we have been arguing for having lots of drivers in place. | He added: "We have been arguing for two years for full employment, we have been arguing for having lots of drivers in place. |
| "We have been fighting for the right number of drivers so this can't happen." | "We have been fighting for the right number of drivers so this can't happen." |
| Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said: "A 1970s-style industrial dispute is the last thing the railways need. | Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said: "A 1970s-style industrial dispute is the last thing the railways need. |
| "Whatever differences there are between management and the unions, there is no reason for the passenger to suffer." | "Whatever differences there are between management and the unions, there is no reason for the passenger to suffer." |
| Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers accused unions of "irresponsible game-playing". | Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers accused unions of "irresponsible game-playing". |
| "A strike by drivers in the run-up to Christmas would be deeply disruptive and those involved must do all they can to avoid it," she said. | "A strike by drivers in the run-up to Christmas would be deeply disruptive and those involved must do all they can to avoid it," she said. |