Further rail strike over sacked driver dispute

Train services to and from Hull on Friday have been been disrupted because of a strike by drivers in a long-running dispute over the sacking of a colleague.

Members of Aslef at Hull Trains have walked out again, leading to several services being cancelled, including between Hull and London Kings Cross.

The union has claimed a driver was unfairly sacked for raising a safety concern, which the company denied.

A Hull Trains spokesperson said the firm was "sorry for the short-notice disruption to Hull Trains services".

"While the majority of our services will continue to run, a number have been cancelled," the spokesperson added.

"This follows a pattern of suspended strike notices from the union, with no suspension notice issued on this occasion.

"Customers with affected tickets can use alternative Hull Trains services or buy tickets with other operators and claim a refund via our customer service team."

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said that Hull Trains had "behaved deplorably".

"The company's failure to act responsibly has enormous implications not just for rail workers and passengers at Hull Trains but for staff and passengers right across the wider rail network," he said.

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

"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.

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