Rail Cancellation Row Over Brighton Pride Weekend

A union's planned train drivers' overtime ban, ending as Brighton Pride weekend starts, has led to rail bosses cancelling ALL trains on Saturday 5th August south of Three Bridges — despite public calls for a reduced service instead.

The train drivers union ASLEF's General Secretary, Mick Whelan, has characterised the dispute with the government and many train operating companies including GTR, as based around pay, and terms and conditions.

But GTR said today (July 27) that cancelling trains south of Three Bridges is due to "serious safety concerns", caused by the operating company being unable to run the extra services it needs to "safely transport the huge number of people" expected.

For the union, Mr. Whelan said:

"We just want to see our members paid fairly during a cost of living crisis when inflation is running at above 10 per cent, and to not see our terms and conditions taken away.

"It’s time for the government and the companies to think again and look for a resolution."

Some critics of the train operating company have seen the employer's choice to withdraw all services, rather than provided a limited service as often happens on days of industrial action, as a "nuclear option", based around GTR relying on overtime instead of building up its workforce.

Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour and Co-operative Party) stated on Wednesday (26 July):

"GTR are holding Brighton Pride to ransom and trying to blame ASLEF.

"Let’s be very clear, this is not a strike.

"GTR have had the bad business practice of relying on overtime to run their service, and now the workers are electing not to work overtime, as is their right, so it is up to GTR to make this work.

"They have enough drivers on the network to run a full Brighton service if they wanted.

"GTR is the largest train company in the UK, they have a monopoly on the Brighton mainline, and they are now holding our city to ransom in a dispute they have caused."

Responding to the criticisms, and a petition set up to focus opposition to the rail closure, GTR said:

"In normal times, extra services are covered by drivers volunteering for overtime.

"But without the additional late-night services we need, there is a clear risk of stranding tens of thousands of people overnight without accommodation.

"On Saturday evening there is always a massive demand for return travel over a short period of time, with a capacity shortfall of 20,000 passengers expected in the busiest hours of the evening alone.

"Keeping passengers and colleagues safe is the absolute priority and following discussions with the council, police and emergency services, as well as our own risk assessments, GTR has very sadly concluded that it cannot safely run any services as it would be impossible to avoid severe overcrowding and present a considerable risk to passenger safety."

Description Of Service

GTR this afternoon (July 27) gave this information about its Brighton Pride Weekend service:

There will be no trains in or out of Brighton station on Saturday 5 August and the station will be closed all day.

Trains on the Brighton mainline will instead terminate at Three Bridges, ensuring passengers can reach other major stations such as Gatwick Airport.

Stations between Three Bridges and Brighton will not be served all day.

Trains will also not run along the southern coastways into Brighton because of the amended timetable due that will be in place.

Journey planners for Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August are now live, and for Saturday 5 August they will be updated on Monday 31 July.

For further information, please visit the dedicated Pride page on the Southern Railway website by clicking/touching here.