Staff shortages could disrupt train services over the Christmas period – London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

The Rail Minister Lord Hendy has raised his concerns that Christmas train services could be disrupted by staff shortages.

He told MPs the Department for Transport (DfT) officials said they will continue to keep an eye on the situation over the Christmas period.

Sunday working is not in most drivers and crew members contracts and operators rely on the staff volunteering to work the extra shifts for more pay.

As a result this causes delays on hundreds of trains across England particularly on the day major football games.

Lord Hendy gave evidence to the Commons’ Transport Select Committee, he said the Government is concerned over “staffing of Christmas services”.

“That we are concerned about with several train operators, exacerbated by the fact that inevitably the closures close parts of the railway and put more pressure on others.”

He added: “I’ve been through this a lot with Alex (Alex Hynes, director general for the DfT’s rail services group) recently and will continue to be into, right up to and over Christmas.”

He continued, “Generally as a system, we’re over-reliant on overtime working for train crew.

“That’s a risk, which may be worse at Christmas time than other times.”

He added, “Christmas is a good time to do major engineering work, because the demand is lower over several days.”