Hundreds of train drivers have voted to strike in a dispute with Central Trains.
Aslef, the train drivers’ union, said its 700 members at the Midlands-based train company would walk out for 24 hours on three consecutive Saturdays starting on 12 February.
It follows disciplinary action taken against two drivers at the firm’s depot in Cambridge whose grades were reduced over safety issues.
Central Trains said services will be “severely hit” on these days.
Union spokesperson Mick Whelan said members were unhappy with the way their colleagues had been treated, and further strikes could be planned if the dispute is not resolved.
Central Trains said: “Safety is not something we can compromise, on and we believe that the decisions we have made in relation to the two drivers are the right ones in the interests of safety.”
It is the second dispute that has arisen between the company and Aslef in recent weeks.
A special timetable was introduced on 1 January after the union withdrew its agreement with Central Trains for members to work overtime. This resulted in a 10 per cent cut in services and replacement buses had to be used for emergency timetable changes.
