Trains in the North face 'utter chaos' if ministers don't fix driver shortages in days 🔴 Local business leaders have written to the Transport Secretary urging him to strike a deal with train companies, unions and metro mayors
Rail services operating across the North will “collapse into utter chaos” unless ministers fix the issue of driver shortages within days, industry leaders have warned.
It stems from operators’ overreliance on “rest day working agreements”, where drivers can volunteer to work on weekends, particularly on Sundays, in return for being paid overtime. Mr Harper was due to meet with Metro Mayors from across the North to discuss the issue but was forced to cancel last week. He has promised a “proper seven-day railway” which is not dependent on volunteers to run as normal.
“As you meet our Metro Mayors here we want to send a clear message: we are not able to continue as we are,” they said. “If we do not get approval for a rest day working agreement to be negotiated this week it will be too late. We already are seeing more cancellations across the North on TransPennine Express than after the May 2018 timetable crisis. When the new timetable comes in the system will collapse into utter chaos.
Jake Berry, the Conservative MP for Rossendale & Darwen, said on Sunday: “The rail network is in a real mess and we particularly feel that in the North with a creaking and ageing service.”
Danmark Seneste Nyt, Danmark Overskrifter
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