TRAIN IN VAIN

26-05-2007

Officially, the failure of Central Trains to provide a service on two local routes last Sunday was down to a lack of volunteers. The Stirrer can reveal that it was actually down to wildcat action which could occur again at any time.

Passengers between Birmingham and Walsall and on the Redditch to Lichfield Cross City line had their travel plans disrupted when all services were cancelled at short notice.

Thanks to industrial practices dating back to British Rail, Sunday working isn’t compulsory, but usually the lure of overtime is enough to guarantee that that the job gets done.

Not on this occasion though, as drivers made a concerted (but strictly unofficial) agreement not to go in.

They’re cheesed off by heavy-handed management apparently, which won’t be any consolation for their brassed off customers - especially as there was a similar no show before Xmas.

Check out more in The Stirrer’s regular Birmingham Mail column.

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