10:20am Friday 18th December 2009
By Matt Watts
A deal has been struck between a train drivers union and a rail operator which could signal the end of travel chaos for many Streatham, Tulse Hill, and Herne Hill commuters.
Thousands of passengers using the Thameslink train line have seen only a skeleton service since a pay dispute broke out between train operator First Capital Connect (FCC) and its drivers on November 11.
Drivers refused to work overtime and were balloted for strike action by union Aslef over a freeze in pay and 3 per cent increase in salaries next year.
But the union accepted a revised pay deal on Tuesday, December 8, equating to 5 per cent over two years and cancelled the strike.
FCC is now hoping drivers will begin to work overtime again. A FCC spokesman said train services were expected to be back to normal at the start of January.
But the dispute has led to questions over FCC's staffing policy, that relies heavily on overtime to provide a full service.
Streatham parliamentary candidate Chuka Umunna said: “FCC need to explain why on earth they have been operating a service without enough drivers – they should not be reliant on drivers agreeing to work overtime to provide a normal service.”
A Thameslink spokesman said overtime was popular with its staff and allowed "greater flexibility".
He said extra trains will go into service during the morning rush hour once drivers are working fully again, providing an extra 1,200 seats in Streatham, Tulse Hill and Herne Hill "where services are particularly crowded."
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