A 48-hour strike by London Tramlink drivers today and tomorrow is going to mean a greatly reduced service, with no trams running from East Croydon to New Addington or Elmers End. Transport for London warned that trams which do run will be busier than usual. About 150 members of ASLEF are taking action after rejecting a 3 per cent pay increase from FirstGroup, which operates the trams on behalf of TfL. Finn Brennan, who is ASLEF’s London organiser, said the offer would mean a real-terms wage cut for people already struggling to deal with rising bills. He continued: ‘Our members do a difficult and demanding job, working round-the-clock shifts over 364 days of the year. They deserve a fair pay settlement.’ First Group’s Tram Operations Ltd said: ‘It’s hard to understand how ASLEF can justify going out on strike, having benefited from a change in terms equivalent to a 5 per cent-plus rise only in November. ASLEF should call off these strikes and return to negotiations.’

Greater Anglia warns of more disruption

A strike by ASLEF drivers on Greater Anglia on Saturday will mean that at least nine out of ten trains will be cancelled, Greater Anglia has warned. It said ‘where trains are running, there will be a severely reduced service’. There will be no trains on regional and branch lines. and no replacement buses. The Norwich-London Liverpool Street intercity service will be limited to six trains in each direction during the day, with the last train back to Norwich likely to depart from London at 21.30. There will also be a limited service between London and Southend Victoria, but again with far fewer trains than usual. The walkout will also affect services on Sunday morning. Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles said: ‘Unfortunately, it’s only possible to run a heavily reduced service and only on some routes, so please only travel if it’s absolutely necessary and make alternative arrangements if you can. We can’t replace all the trains not running due to the strike with rail replacement buses, so it will just be the limited train service running on Saturday. Work is continuing at an industry level to try to resolve the dispute as soon as possible.’

Former London transport commissioner becomes RSSB chair

The Rail Safety and Standards Board appointed Mike Brown as the new chair of its board on 23 June. As London transport commissioner he was responsible for TfL services during the 2012 London Olympics. Since 2020 he has been chair of the Delivery Authority for the restoration and renewal of the Houses of Parliament. He is also a former chair of the National Skills Academy for Rail, and the Strategic Transport Apprenticeship Taskforce. He said: ‘I am delighted to be appointed. Britain’s railways are at a very exciting point in their history. I know that RSSB wants to support the whole industry in the transition ahead, and to help deliver a safe and sustainable future.’