Shortage of drivers causes rail lines to be shut

Long delays for train travellers have been caused after a shortage of staff meant that a route that runs into Kings Cross station in London was cancelled. First Capital Connect (FCC) made a statement that confirmed that the staff shortage was caused after very few staff offered to work overtime to cover the shortage on the Great Northern service. A bus service was put in place of the rail route and free parking was also available for those using the buses.

FCC is not the first train company to suffer at the hands of staff shortages as London Midland also recently had problems with the number of staff available for overtime shifts. Union leaders have been accused of orchestrating an unofficial strike but the union was quick to deny this. FCC requires that at least 80 train drivers are needed to run the Great Northern service that runs out of both Peterborough and Kings Lynn.

However, many weekend shifts are manned through voluntary workers that are looking for some overtime and with no one offering to work overtime the line were left short. The FCC has spoke of its regret that its staff has caused its customers such disruption and ensured travellers that it is working hard to resolve the problem. The company also spoke of its regret that there would be few services running on Remembrance Sunday and claimed that they had contacted members of the Royal British Legion to warn them of the rail chaos at the weekend.