FirstGroup hopes for end of train dispute

Published on Saturday 9 January 2010 15:41

FIRSTGROUP hopes that this week will see a return to normal service at one of its London franchises amid fears of a revolt by commuters.

The Aberdeen-based transport giant provides a trading update on Thursday for the final three months of 2009, a day after a crucial vote by some of its train drivers who have been working to rule.

First Capital Connect, used by tens of thousands of commuters in London, has been running a heavily reduced service since November.

The dispute began when First tabled a pay offer for drivers, which included a pay freeze for 2010.

In response, the drivers refused to work any overtime or on rest days, which First claims caused severe disruptions to its service. Despite a revised offer – including a 1.5 per cent pay rise backdated to April 2009 – being recommended by the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef), many drivers are still refusing to work overtime.

The disruptions have led to anger among commuters and the creation of a spoof website, firstcrapitalconnect.com. Commuters have told Scotland on Sunday they plan to attend First's annual general meeting to vent anger about the service.

A spokesman for First said the group could understand passengers' anger, given the level of disruption to the rail franchise.

"It's quite understandable that people aren't very happy," he said.

The spokesman said the company had expected the revised offer to prompt drivers, who had worked overtime in the first three and a half years of the franchise, to return to work.

He said: "While we have had some people coming back to work there's still not the number we need to run the full service."

The company now hopes this week's vote will prompt a return by Aslef members. However, the spokesman admitted this was no certainty.

First is no stranger to controversy involving its English rail franchises.

Around the same time as its long time chief executive Sir Moir Lockhead was receiving his knighthood in 2008, First Great Western, which links Bristol and Cardiff to London, was facing protests from commuters over its pricing and punctuality.

Some disgruntled passengers printed obviously fake tickets, with the franchise dubbed Worst Late Western.