Train drivers to vote on strikes

Train services on First Capital Connect lines serving London were disrupted

Train drivers who failed to volunteer for work on Remembrance Sunday are to be balloted for strike action over pay.

The action by First Capital Connect drivers could threaten pre-Christmas travel disruption as well as weekdays.

All services between London and King's Lynn were cancelled on Sunday and 50 services failed to run on Wednesday because of a shortage of drivers.

First Capital said as many as half of its services on its Brighton to Bedford route could be cancelled on Thursday.

A spokesman apologised to customers for disruption in Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Surrey, Sussex, Cambridgeshire and London.

'Bucked recession'

Aslef said its members at First Capital Connect (FCC) will vote in the next few weeks on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action over a two-year pay offer.

The ballot will close on 9 December and the union will have to give seven days notice of any strike.

This threatens train stoppages just two weeks before Christmas if there is a yes vote.

Keith Norman, general secretary of Aslef, said: "We regret that matters have come to this, particularly at a company where profit levels have bucked the trend of the recession."

Drivers decided not to work overtime because of a pay row last Sunday but the union denied it amounted to an unofficial strike.

Officials said drivers were following their contractual right not to work overtime if they did not wish to.

The company said it had made a fair pay offer to union representatives of no rise next year but at least 3% in year two.