Eurostar train drivers set to strike on Friday over wages
British train drivers on Eurostar services will strike on Friday and Saturday over pay, but the company yesterday said it expected no disruption for pre-Christmas travellers.
Eurostar trains link London to Paris and Brussels and the coming few days are usually among the busiest of the year ahead of the Christmas holiday.
A spokesman for the company said he was optimistic that it would be able to maintain a normal timetable.
“We’re confident that we’ll able to cover our services this weekend,” the spokesman said, adding that no cancellations were planned at this stage. The company expects French and Belgian drivers to cover any gaps.
The ASLEF union, which represents 71 British drivers on Eurostar , said it expected some limited impact on services. Holidaymakers already face chaos from a 12-day strike planned by British Airways cabin crew starting on 22 December.
ASLEF said it was seeking compensation for drivers left out of pocket by the decline in value of the pound against the euro. Sterling has lost around a quarter of its value against the euro over the last two years and the union said it was costing drivers up to £30 per shift.