Action by drivers leads to cancellation of Chester train services

Oct 27 2008 by Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

A TRAIN company has apologised to Chester passengers after Sunday services were cancelled following “unofficial action” taken by drivers.

Passengers using scheduled Arriva Trains Wales services to Llandudno Junction and Holyhead were forced to take replacement bus services after a number of drivers refused to report for work following an internal dispute over what is understood to be contractual “terms and conditions”.

The walkout coincided with engineering works scheduled on the same day between Chester and Manchester, Wrexham and The Wirral.

Arriva Trains Wales human resources director Dennis Baker explained: “A number of our train drivers in North Wales and Chester chose to take unofficial action by not making themselves available to work Arriva Trains Wales services last Sunday, October 26.

“We are extremely disappointed about this action which was excerbated by the fact there were some planned engineering works on between Chester and Manchester, Chester and Gobowen and Wrexham and Bidston.

He added: “Replacement buses were booked as alternative transport and we put posters up on stations and sent out traffic announcements to media. Arriva Trains Wales would like to apologise to our customers for the inconvenience this caused them.”