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Search forTravel chaos as trains hit by strike action
Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 09:00
Managers at a rail company stood on picket lines outside train depots yesterday and today in support of a 24-hour strike over pay.
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association said the walkout, from noon on Tuesday at Arriva Trains Wales, was in protest at the erosion of pay differences.
The union said the managers were now earning less than some of the staff they supervised.
Services were hit and a number of trains cancelled.
Arriva Trains Wales human resources director Dennis Baker said: "We are extremely surprised and disappointed that a number of our train drivers in South Wales have chosen to engage in unofficial industrial action in support of 29 driver managers who have been taking part in an official TSSA 24-hour strike from midday on Tuesday until midday today.
"This unofficial action is in direct contravention of instructions from the drivers' own union, ASLEF, to work normally.
"The company is continuing to engage in discussions with senior officials of TSSA to seek a resolution to the dispute.
"Arriva Trains Wales would like to apologise to our customers for the obvious inconvenience this has caused them."
The strike action was due to end at noon today.
According to National Rail Enquiries customers were advised by Arriva Trains Wales not to travel, or to make alternative arrangements due to members of train crew being unavailable.
Services between Swansea, Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Fishguard Harbour were cancelled, and replaced by bus services.
Services between Swansea, Carmarthen and Shrewsbury, and also between Cardiff Central and Manchester Piccadilly/Holyhead were also subject to cancellations depending on the availability of train crew. Replacement bus services were provided.
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