Disruption warning as CrossCountry train drivers announce October strikes

Rail passengers using the CrossCountry network face yet more chaos with a second union calling members out on strike.

CrossCountry connects Scotland, England and Wales through its hub at Birmingham New Street.

Over the August bank holiday weekend a strike by members of the RMT union closed down the network for a day and caused hundreds of cancellations on other days.

Now train drivers at CrossCountry will take industrial action in a dispute over what their union, Aslef, calls “managers acting in bad faith.”

From Sunday 21 September, train drivers will refuse to work non-contractual overtime, with a full-scale strike planned for Friday 3 October. Most or all CrossCountry trains are likely to be cancelled on that day – Friday is normally one of the busiest days of the week.

Many other services could be affected by the ban on overtime.

Aslef has 632 train driver members at CrossCountry. In a ballot on industrial action, they voted 9:1 to strike on a turnout of 83 per cent.

Major stations on the CrossCountry network include Penzance, Plymouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford, Reading, Nottingham, Manchester, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, said: ‘Whatever some people think, we do not ballot for industrial action, or take strike action, lightly.

“We only walk out when we have been pushed too far by a belligerent management. And that’s what’s happened here. When we make agreements, we stick by them. This company doesn’t.

“That’s why we are taking strike action. Passengers need to know it’s the result of bad managers, acting in bad faith, that they will not be able to travel as and when they would wish.”

The union’s lead officer for CrossCountry, Andy Hourigan, said: “The company constantly breaks agreements, arrangements, and procedures – and it’s been brought to a head by the misuse of the grievance and discipline process.”

Shiona Rolfe, CrossCountry’s managing director, said: “We are disappointed for our passengers that Aslef has announced industrial action from Sunday 21 September and strike action on Friday 3 October.

“We remain committed to reaching an agreement with Aslef that avoids disruption for passengers, and remain available to continue talks.“

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) said: “This is disappointing news for passengers - there is, however, still time to avert disruption.

“We strongly urge both Aslef and CrossCountry to get back around the table to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible.”

Aslef is also taking action in a dispute with Hull Trains over treatment of a train driver.

Read more: London Underground strikes: When are they and which lines are affected?