Fresh talks to be held in bid to resolve train drivers dispute

The Government is to hold fresh talks with the union representing train drivers in a bid to resolve their long-running pay dispute.

Aslef said there will be an initial meeting with the Department for Transport (DfT) next Tuesday, voicing hopes of “constructive” talks.

It is understood the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies involved in the row, will not be involved in the discussions.

Aslef members have taken 18 days of strikes since the dispute started two years ago, causing huge disruption to passengers.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: “We’re having an initial meeting with the DfT on Tuesday.

“We hope, with a new government in place, that we can have constructive talks to get a positive resolution that works for train drivers, who have not had an increase in salary for five years, since 2019, and will help get our railway back on track.”

Mr Whelan said the Conservative government and its transport ministers had “put the brakes” on a deal, adding: “Now, with a new Secretary of State for Transport in place, I hope, and think, we can, and will, get a deal done.”

It will be the first meeting between the union and the department since April last year.

Previous talks have involved the Rail Delivery Group.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said in a recent message on X, formerly Twitter: “Fourteen years without a workforce strategy has left our railways understaffed, reliant on voluntary working and lurching from one crisis to the next. Our urgent priority is to reset workforce relations and put passengers first.”

Published: 17/07/2024 by Radio NewsHub