A Department for Transport spokesperson said:
“It is disappointing that ASLEF are targeting the public and
hospitality businesses at the beginning of the festive period,
when there is a fair and reasonable pay offer for train drivers
on the table that would take their salary up to an average of
£65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.
“Taxpayers contributed £1000 per household to protect train
drivers’ jobs during the pandemic. Instead of going on strike,
ASLEF should be following in the footsteps of the other rail
unions and giving their members a vote on this fair pay deal.”
Background:
- Train drivers are on well above average salaries already. The
median salary for train and tram drivers is currently around
£60,000 for a 35-hour, 4-day week.
- Adjusting for inflation, revenue remains £0.7bn pounds per
quarter below 2019 levels. A total passenger revenue of £2.6bn
compared to £3.3bn in the equivalent quarter in 2019. Just over
£8m per day.
- The Department spent £31bn of taxpayer money - £1000 per
household - in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
- Between April and June 2023, the number of passenger journeys
(390 million) was 89% of the equivalent quarter in 2019. This
reduces to 80% when the impact of the Elizabeth Line is excluded
(which provide a more meaningful like-for-like comparison).
