Fourth weekend of rail disruption

The rail company said some train services would operate on Sunday

Rail passengers in the East Midlands are facing a fourth weekend of disruption to services.

East Midlands Trains (EMT) drivers have been failing to turn up for voluntary Sunday shifts following a pay dispute.

Tim Shoveller from EMT said:"We are refusing to be held to ransom. We're running 36 trains to and from London this weekend. No-one will be stranded."

Train drivers' union ASLEF has said the disruption is not official action and it wants to resolve the dispute.

Two weeks ago EMT took legal action against ASLEF. An injunction was granted against ASLEF to ban further industrial action and to encourage drivers to work normally on Sundays.

Sunday is a normal travel day for our passengers and we believe the people who deliver our rail services should treat it as such Tim Shoveller, East Midlands Trains

EMT managing director, Tim Shovellor, said: "We know that this current situation with drivers refusing to make themselves available for work on Sundays is unacceptable, and is confusing for our passengers, particularly as we have a good track record of running Sunday services.

"When the East Midlands Trains franchise started in November 2007, we inherited the current arrangements regarding Sunday working for drivers from the previous train operators, and the principle has always been very clear - Aslef and their members knew they were expected to work on Sundays."

He added: "We have previously managed to run our Sunday services without any difficulties and, under normal circumstances, we do not have a shortage of available drivers.

"Sunday is a normal travel day for our passengers and we believe the people who deliver our rail services should treat it as such."

Aslef spokesman Chris Proctor said negotiations between the union and EMT were ongoing and a further meeting was planned for next week.

Passengers hoping to travel on Sunday are advised to check information about services on www. eastmidlandstrains.co.uk or by phoning National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.