Brighton Pride: Government blames Aslef for rail disruption

No trains will run to or from Brighton next Saturday, the first day of Pride festivities in the city, after rail operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) raised concerns over safety due to an overtime ban by train drivers.

The Department for Transport has criticised train drivers’ union Aslef for organising its overtime ban to clash with Brighton Pride and said it is “vital” for the railway to move to a seven-day working week to “prevent big events being disrupted at the whim of union leaders”.

The cancellation of train services will clash with the Pride parade through Brighton and Hove (Image: Simon Dack)

A government spokeswoman said: “It’s completely disingenuous for Aslef to blame anyone but themselves for trains not being able to stop in Brighton on the Saturday of Pride weekend. 

“If Aslef cared about impacting Pride, they could have called off their overtime ban at any point.

“The wellbeing of passengers and the capacity of local emergency services must come first and it would be nothing short of irresponsible to allow a limited number of trains to stop, knowing the expected number of passengers and the potential risk to their safety.

“This is further proof that Aslef are targeting major cultural events and another reminder of how vital it is the railway moves to a seven-day working week to prevent big events being disrupted at the whim of union leaders.”

The government is looking to work with local organisers where it can to help get as many people to the event as possible.

• READ MORE: Pride train cancellations made with 'heavy heart' - full details of disruption

Train services on the Brighton mainline will terminate at Three Bridges on August 5, with no trains operating along the southern coastways to Brighton.

Services on Friday, August 4 and Sunday, August 6 are unaffected.

A spokesman for GTR said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision to make due to the major impact it will have on everyone planning to attend Pride, which GTR has proudly supported for many years.”

No trains will operate south of Three Bridges along the Brighton mainline next Saturday (Image: GTR)

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, hit out at suggestions they have caused the disruption and pinned the blame on GTR bosses.

He said: “The simple fact is that this company does not employ enough drivers to deliver the services it has promised passengers, businesses and the Department of Transport it will run.

“GTR has known the date of Brighton Pride, and about its failure to employ enough drivers to deliver the services it should, for a very long time.

“Yet they are only running trains to Three Bridges, just three-quarters of the way down the line, in a deliberate and malicious attempt to disrupt the event and then to blame Aslef for its own manifest failings.

“The company should do the right thing - give our members, their drivers, the pay rise they deserve - and give the people of Brighton the train service they need.”