Hull Trains drivers strike again over sacking

Drivers at Hull Trains have started a fresh round of strike action which is expected to run until 24 May, a union has said.

Aslef said a colleague had been unfairly dismissed after raising a safety concern about fatigue during a meeting, which the rail operator denied. The union had been calling for the company to reinstate the employee.

The latest round followed walkouts by Aslef members in March and April.

Hull Trains said it was "disappointed" by further strike action and insisted safety was "our number one priority".

Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, said: "Anyone who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fearing they will be penalised, punished or lose their livelihood. The company has behaved deplorably."

"The company's failure to act responsibly has an impact - and enormous implications - not just for rail workers and passengers at the company but for staff and passengers right across the wider rail industry.

"This is a moral issue because we have a culture on the railway designed to keep everyone safe," he said.

A spokesperson for Hull Trains said: "We're disappointed to receive notice of further strike action from Aslef.

"Safety of our customers and colleagues will always remain our number one priority."

Hull Trains previously said it followed highly regulated industry standard agreements and procedures for safety.

The company operates services between Hull and London King's Cross, with stops at stations including Selby, Doncaster, Retford and Grantham.

The operator said there had been minor alterations to the timetable with affected passengers booked on to other services.

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