By Tom Barton

28 Aug, 2002

Page 7

PASSENGERS across North Wales were left stranded yesterday as train drivers walked out on strike again.

And the misery is set to continue today when the two-day strike again stops services in the region.

The train drivers' union Aslef are calling for the conditions attached to a recent pay deal by train operator First North Western to be renegotiated.

But passengers yesterday hit out in frustration as they arrived at train stations to find no services available.

Cathy Stevens, 43, and her daughter Sarah, 25, who are on holiday from Nashville, Tennessee, arrived at Llandudno Junction station yesterday hoping to take the train the Blaenau Ffestiniog.

'We are only here for a week and a half, and we've now got this day in front of us and we don't know what to do with ourselves,' said Cathy.

'We had really wanted to see the slate quarries, but will now have to spend the day doing something else.

'We've paid the full price of $ 85 (pounds 55.90) for a week's rail pass, and now we're not going to be able to use it for two days,' she added.

Local student Shirley Yau, 22, was hoping to make the journey to back to college in Winchester yesterday.

'I'm very fed up.

'It affects more of us as citizens than them as drivers, and they don't seem to care about that,' she said.

The student faced a half-hour wait for a replacement bus service, before a journey time of up to eight hours. 'It takes three hours just to get to Crewe by bus, and then I'll have to wait for a connection.

'I've got appointments to keep when I get there, and I can't afford to miss them,' she added.

A spokesman for the Rail Passengers' Committee Wales yesterday reflected the frustration of stranded travellers.

'Although First North Western are laying on buses for people to get along the North Wales main line, it is an inconvenience that passengers could well do without, particularly on a day like today just after a bank holiday.

'We don't get involved in disputes between trade unions and operators but we just hope that the two parties come to an agreement quickly so that these disputes don't drag on and on.'

An Aslef spokesman yesterday said: 'Obviously we regret that we're having to be out on strike again because it's not been possible to get an acceptable offer from the management.'

Union leaders yesterday said they were willing to reconvene talks with rail bosses to try to prevent a third 48hour strike by train drivers.

Aslef say bosses at First North Western attached strings to a 19pc pay-rise offer, introducing 'new and unacceptable' proposals such as making drivers responsible for picking up litter at stations.

First North Western deny changing the terms of the three-year pay agreement and said Aslef reneged on the deal.

The first 48-hour walkout took place on August 13 and 14 and the next planned strike is for September 10 and 11.

Negotiations organised by the conciliation service Acas broke down last week but a spokesman for Aslef yesterday said the union was willing to reconvene talks.

He said: 'We are willing to get back around the table but no meeting has been scheduled.

'It is almost inevitable that tomorrow's action will go ahead but the outcome of any talks could of course have an effect on the planned 48-hour strike next month.'

First North Western was unable to comment but managing director Vernon Barker has previously said: 'I remain available at all times to talk to Aslef'.

Most First North Western services were cancelled yesterday, although a limited replacement bus service was operating.

FINAL decisions on high-speed tilting train operations on a key route for North Wales travellers are still months away, it was revealed yesterday.

There has been speculation that Sir Richard Branson's train company Virgin Rail will only be able to operate the tilting trains in a limited way on the West Coast main line because of the high cost of the line's upgrade.

But Virgin said it was still confident of introducing some tilting services next year and going 'full tilt' in 2004.

Railtrack said negotiations over the multi-billion pound upgrade were continuing and that a conclusion was 'not expected until the end of the year'.