Industrial action affects LNER and Northern services

Rail bosses are warning of new delays to services later this week due to further industrial strike action on the route to London.

Aslef, the train drivers’ trade union, will take action on Friday, March 1, including strikes and an overtime ban, on LNER and Northern due to complaints about their compliance with existing agreements.

LNER has issued warnings to passengers that this latest move will mean limited services between Edinburgh to King’s Cross including Peterborough, Grantham, and Doncaster, and will result in no services to places such as Lincoln, Hull, or Harrogate.

“We are running a reduced service across most of our route on Friday, March 1, due to industrial action. There will be a small impact to services on the days either side,” said the company.

The action will also mean that the first services of the day will be later than usual and that the last services will be earlier.

Passengers are urged to check their seats, reserve their places, and if they can claim a refund on LNER’s website.

Aslef accuses LNER of failing to adhere to negotiation procedures.

Announcing the strikes Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers' trade union, said: 'We are fed up to the back teeth with the bad faith shown, day after day, week after week, and month after month by these two companies.

“We always stick to agreements which we make. These companies think they can break agreements – which they freely enter into – whenever it suits them. And they're wrong. This is a shot across their bows and a sign of things to come.

“They need to stop what they are doing, start to behave properly and honourably, because their drivers – our members – are no longer prepared to be treated like this.”

These actions are separate from the ongoing national pay disputes with other companies.

An LNER spokesperson said: “Our priority focus remains on minimising disruption to customers during ASLEF strikes, which sadly will continue to cause disruption and delays.

“We encourage ASLEF to continue to work with us to find a way to end this long-running dispute which only damages the rail industry.”