Travel to the TRSNMT 2023 music festival could be impacted after Aslef announced an overtime ban for its members in the first full week of July.
The union stated its train drivers will withdraw non-contractual overtime – known as rest day working – from Monday, July 3 to Saturday, July 8.
This will coincide with the first two days of the festival on Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8.
With a backlog in training blamed on the Covid pandemic, many rail firms rely on train drivers working overtime to operate a full schedule.
As a result, cross-border rail operators may be affected by Aslef overtime ban, potentially impacting those attempting to travel to Glasgow for TRNSMT.
Spend a stunning Sunday with us on the 9th of July. With performances from @the1975 @royalblooduk @BeckyHill @NBThieves and so many more!💥 Tickets ~ https://t.co/YwlLw4151E pic.twitter.com/AxzOMPzFJ3
— TRNSMT Festival (@TRNSMTfest) June 18, 2023
Operators such as CrossCountry, LNER and TransPennine Express may be impacted in their scheduling, so it would be useful to check your routes out if you are using these services to get to TRNSMT.
ScotRail is not impacted by the overtime ban after negotiating a pay rise with Aslef.
Which rail operators will be affected by the Aslef overtime ban?
The operators that will be affected by the Aslef action include:
- Avanti West Coast
- Chiltern Railways
- Cross Country
- East Midlands Railway
- Greater Anglia
- GWR
- GTR Great Northern Thameslink
- Island Line
- LNER
- Northern Trains
- Southeastern
- Southern/Gatwick Express
- South Western Railway main line
- SWR depot drivers
- TransPennine Express
- West Midlands Trains
Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “Once again, we find ourselves with no alternative but to take this action.
“We have continually come to the negotiating table in good faith, seeking to resolve this dispute.
“Sadly, it is clear from the actions of both the train operating companies and the government that they do not want an end to the dispute. Their goals appear to be to continue industrial strife and to do down our industry.
“We don’t want to inconvenience the public. We just want to see our members paid fairly during a cost of living crisis when inflation is running at above 10%, and to not see our terms and conditions taken away.
“It’s time for the government and the companies to think again and look for a resolution.”
Drivers have been offered a 4% pay rise backdated to April 2022, and another 4% from April 2023, which Aslef dismissed as “risible” given previous pay freezes and the rate of inflation.
