End in sight for First Capital Connect pay dispute

TRAVEL chaos affecting thousands of rail passengers may finally be coming to an end.

Cancellations and disruptions on the Great Northern route have plagued travellers following First Capital Connect (FCC) drivers refusal to work overtime, in a dispute over pay.

The row escalated on Remembrance Sunday when the rail operator controversially decided to scrap all services on the route, which runs through Times Territory, after staff adopted the work-to-rule policy.

Since then, train drivers’ union Aslef balloted its members for industrial action over a two-year pay offer which would mean at least three per cent from next April.

However, today (Thursday) there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

A FCC spokesman told the Welwyn Hatfield Times that a revised pay offer had been made.

He added: “This is to be formally discussed at the Aslef executive meeting early next week where the offer will be ‘recommended for acceptance’.”

He continued: “We would anticipate that our individual drivers will start to return to working rest days and overtime as details of the pay offer are communicated.

“We now await the outcome of the Aslef executive meeting.”

The Great Northern route includes Knebworth, Welwyn North, WGC, Hatfield, Welham Green, Brookmans Park and Potters Bar railway stations.