Xmas rail chaos, thanks to Labour pay surrender: Drivers don't need overtime after they got big lump sum, minister admits
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Christmas chaos on the railways is being fuelled by Labour's bumper pay rises, the Transport Secretary has admitted. Heidi Alexander said the hefty sums handed out, with no concessions or reforms, meant many drivers were putting their feet up, rather than taking on the overtime needed to keep the network running.
![[Heidi Alexander said the hefty sums handed out, with no concessions or reforms, meant many drivers were putting their feet up]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/22/93369167-0-image-a-18_1734732027030.jpg)
It comes amid warnings of gridlock on the roads this weekend, and adverse weather across parts of the UK as millions plot their Christmas getaway. Tory transport spokesman Gareth Bacon said: 'Yet more chaos, just months into Labour's premiership. By constantly kowtowing to their union paymasters, Labour are letting passengers down, and causing Christmas misery which will undoubtedly become an unwelcome and persistent feature in the New Year.'.
![[Travellers on the M25 motorway this morning after the AA warned drivers of very busy roads)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/22/93350965-0-Travellers_on_the_M25_motorway_this_morning_after_the_AA_warned_-a-20_1734732178628.jpg)
Train services across the country are expected to be disrupted by staff shortages this weekend, particularly tomorrow because many drivers and other crew members do not have Sunday working included in their contracts. It means numerous operators often rely on them volunteering to work extra paid shifts to run timetabled services on that day.
![[Tory transport spokesman Gareth Bacon said: 'Yet more chaos, just months into Labour's premiership']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/22/93369249-0-image-a-19_1734732127396.jpg)
Labour ended years of disputes with unions by agreeing a 14 per cent rise over three years to push train drivers' average salaries up to nearly £70,000. This included a backdated pay rise going back to 2022, paid into bank accounts in one lump sum. There are warnings of gridlock on the roads this weekend, and adverse weather across parts of the UK as millions plot their Christmas getaway.
