Latest news with #HullTrains
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Rail union votes for more strikes in Hull Trains driver dispute
Drivers at Hull Trains have voted to continue strike action in support of a colleague who was of the Aslef union have staged a series of walkouts over the last few union has claimed a driver was unfairly sacked for raising a safety concern, which the company has Trains said it was disappointed at the results of the latest ballot. The new vote means the industrial action will continue over the next six Roebuck, Aslef's organiser in the north-east of England, said: "Hull Trains has been telling our members that they wish to sort out this issue but it's nearly a month since their last meeting with Aslef and the silence is deafening."They also have a new managing director who, it appears, doesn't wish to get involved."In response, a spokesperson for the company said: "The company has made a number of proposals for a resolution of this matter with Aslef."We remain committed to open dialogue to resolve this situation and avoid further disruption to our customers."Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Train drivers vote for further strikes in long-running dispute
A fresh wave of strikes has been announced by drivers at a train company in a long-running dispute over the sacking of a colleague. Members of Aslef at Hull Trains have voted to continue taking industrial action after months of walkouts. Unions have to ballot members on industrial action every six months. The union already announced a strike from Sunday June 1 to Saturday August 9. Nigel Roebuck, Aslef's organiser in the north east of England, said: 'Hull Trains has been telling our members that they wish to sort out this issue, but it's nearly a month since their last meeting with Aslef and the silence is deafening. 'They also have a new managing director who, it appears, doesn't wish to get involved. 'So trains are cancelled, passengers inconvenienced, and we now have a further mandate for six months to seek a proper and just resolution to this matter.' The driver was sacked over a safety issue.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- The Independent
Hull Trains strikes could continue over sacked driver accused of sleeping at the controls
Strikes affecting Hull Train services could continue until next year as staff fight to get a driver reinstated who was accused of falling asleep at the controls. Hull Trains drivers who are members of Aslef could continue to take action over a driver they believe was unfairly sacked, with members currently going through a ballot process to decide whether to strike again. Mick Whelan, the general secretary of trade union Aslef, said it would 'keep going' until the driver was reinstated. The train drivers already carried out strikes earlier this year, during busy periods including Easter, amid the ongoing dispute over what they believe is an unfair dismissal. The strike days caused serious disruption on the rail network, with services such as Hull to London King's Cross experiencing cancellations. Aslef says it has a 100 per cent membership at Hull Trains, with drivers voting 'overwhelmingly' to take strike action back in March. The union claims that the train operator sacked the driver who 'did nothing more than raise a safety concern in a company meeting'. Reports have claimed that the driver told his manager he had experienced 'fatigue matters' at the controls while driving at nearly 125mph on more than one occasion. However, Nigel Roebuck, Aslef's full-time organiser in the northeast of England, said that the stories in the papers in which it states the driver fell asleep are 'completely untrue'. 'There are safety provisions in place, in case a driver has a health incident, and the train automatically stops. 'But nothing happened and that is why neither newspaper has been able to produce a shred of evidence to support its claim,' he said. 'It's a lie-sabre-rattling without any foundation whatsoever.' Mr Roebuck added back in May that the company is 'clearly in the wrong' over sacking the driver who has a clean safety record and had been driving trains for more than 20 years. 'The company is saying that the situation is unique and difficult, and that they have decided that the individual can no longer drive trains based on a comment made during a safety briefing and a collective view of being unsafe, with little evidence other than a remark made. 'The company is punishing and penalising him for something he said, in the context of a safety meeting, not for anything he has done on the track.' Mr Whelan also added in May that the company's decision, which led to the strikes, also had implications for not just rail workers but also passengers. He added that this was a 'moral issue' because there is 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. The company has behaved deplorably,' he added. When asked about the prospect of a new round of strikes, a Hull Trains spokesperson told The Independent: "Customers can check the Hull Trains website and social channels for the latest travel information about our services.' 'The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our number one priority,' they added. "The company has made a number of proposals for a resolution. We remain committed to open dialogue with Aslef in order to resolve this situation.'
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Telegraph
Train strike over ‘sleeping driver' to continue beyond Christmas
Train drivers who have been striking in support of a sacked colleague who fell asleep at the controls may continue until next year. Strikers at Hull Trains have been walking out for the past six months to demand the reinstatement of a colleague who nodded off while at the controls of a 125mph service. Union representatives have since claimed there is 'no evidence' of this happening, although a letter sent to Hull Trains staff by its bosses said the driver had experienced 'fatigue matters' more than once. Unions involved in long-running disputes must by law reballot their members every six months to see if they want to continue walking out. 'This is a moral issue' Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, said the union would 'keep going' until the driver was reinstated. Mr Whelan said that Hull Trains had 'behaved deplorably', adding: '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. '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.'
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Boss of company that owns strike-hit Hull Trains to step down
The managing director of the company that owns strike-hit Hull Trains is to step down, it was revealed tonight. Martijn Gilbert will step away from his position with immediate effect. Members of Aslef have staged a series of strikes for months over the sacking of a colleague for a safety issue. Steve Montgomery, First Rail managing director, said: 'After nearly three years as the managing director of our open access rail businesses, Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway, Martijn Gilbert has decided to pursue another leadership opportunity and will step away from his position with immediate effect. 'Martijn has led the team successfully in this period, achieving significant results and we wish Martijn well for the future. 'Stuart Jones, commercial director open access, will take on the remit of managing director of our open access businesses. 'Stuart has been instrumental in driving our open access strategy forward and will now focus on achieving that growth whilst driving performance excellence. 'Fran Barrett, business assurance director First Rail, will additionally take on the leadership of Tram Operations Limited and London Cableway on an interim basis.' Aslef has been critical of Mr Gilbert's role in the dispute. The union says the driver was unfairly sacked for raising a safety issue, which the company denies.
