The Government was involved in a row with train drivers tonight as passengers endured worsening travel chaos on some of the busiest routes in the country.
Half of First Capital Connect’s services running through central London from Brighton to Bedford were cancelled today, a total of 200 trains, as drivers refused to work voluntary overtime in protest at a pay freeze.
Similar disruption for the service’s 200,000 daily passengers is expected tomorrow and First Capital Connect has warned that it may have to cancel even more trains.
The Government condemned the train drivers’ action, which is not an official strike, saying that passengers were being seriously inconvenienced.
“Concerted action to stop trains running is irresponsible,” said Chris Mole, a junior transport minister.
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“The action by drivers on FCC appears to be co-ordinated and it is highly regrettable given that talks are continuing.”
He added that train companies needed to ensure their staffing arrangements were robust, so that they could not be “held to ransom” in this way.
Theresa Villiers, the shadow transport secretary, also branded the drivers’ action irresponsible and said it was not credible to believe the unions were not giving tacit encouragement.
Anne Main, a Tory MP whose St Albans constituency lies on the Thameslink route hit by the cancellations, said that the emergency timetable cutting services by 50 per cent today had brought “chaos” and given constituents a “miserable” journey to the capital.
The rail company said it had made a fair pay offer to union representatives of 0% this year and at least 3% in 2010.
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It said in a statement: “We are extremely sorry that a shortage of train drivers has forced us to cancel a large number of services on the Thameslink route between Bedford, Luton, central London, Sutton, Wimbledon and Brighton.
“To allow us to operate as consistent a timetable as possible over the coming days, we have introduced an amended timetable.
“We will endeavour to adhere to this timetable as much as possible. However, it may be necessary to further amend it.”
Aslef is balloting its 550 members at FCC for industrial action over pay, with voting ending on December 9, threatening action just two weeks before Christmas if there is a yes vote.
Keith Norman, general secretary of Aslef, said: “We regret that matters have come to this, particularly at a company where profit levels have bucked the trend of the recession.”
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A spokesman added: “We are very surprised that the Government does not take into account irresponsible attitudes by management instead of attacking ordinary working people.”
Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrat transport spokesman, said: “People will be horrified to learn so much of the guaranteed timetable only works because drivers turn up voluntarily.”
The drivers’ action mirrors the situation in September, when thousands of passengers were stranded after drivers employed by the rail operator London Midland failed to volunteer for work, following the end of an agreement to give them double pay for Sundays.