Rail services get back to normal

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Rail services across south and west Wales are starting to return to normal after passengers faced disruption because of strike action.

A 24-hour official strike by train managers in a long-running dispute over pay ended at lunchtime.

Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) said its services were getting back to normal but warned there may still be residual delays for the evening rush hour.

The company apologised to customers for the inconvenience they had suffered.

Commercial director Mike Bagshaw said "Arriva Trains Wales services are returning to normal in South Wales and West Wales after a 24-hour official strike by driver managers which was joined on an unofficial basis by a number of drivers."

He said the company was continuing to engage in discussions with senior officials of TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association) union to seek a resolution to the dispute.

Residual delays

"Arriva Trains Wales would like to apologise to our customers for the obvious inconvenience this caused them this morning," said Mr Bagshaw.

"ATW is actively working to ensure trains are running normally for this evening's peak travel period but there may be some residual delays.

Earlier, Valley Line services out of Cardiff Central station and those in west Wales, which were replaced by busses, were badly hit by the action.

Customers are advised by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) not to travel, or to make alternative arrangements.

The company replaced all services between Swansea, Carmarthen, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Fishguard harbour with buses.

Pay eroded

Around 30 train driver managers picketed three ATW depots at Cardiff, Chester and Warrington in the industrial action

The TSSA union has claimed that managers' pay has been eroded over the past few years.

The union introduced a work-to-rule policy on 4 September with the strike the latest move in their bid to increase members' pay.

The decision by some train crews to support the action was criticised by the company.

"We are extremely surprised and disappointed," said Dennis Baker, the human resources director for Arriva Trains Wales.

"This unofficial action is in direct contravention of instructions from the drivers' own union, Aslef, to work normally.

"The company is continuing to engage in discussions with senior officials of TSSA to seek a resolution to the dispute."