Eurostar has confirmed that it will be replacing striking UK staff with French and Belgian drivers this weekend, as reported yesterday on Business Traveller (see online news December 16).
A spokesperson for the cross-channel train operator today said it was “confident there will be no cancellations” this weekend despite industrial action by its UK drivers, with services in both directions unaffected.
“In terms of our UK services 35-40% of our workers are from the UK with approximately 60% from Belgium and France,” Eurostar said.
“We are drafting in Eurostar drivers from these regions to cover the UK services caused by the strike. I would like to verify that we are not drafting in drivers from other companies, these drivers already work for Eurostar.”
As reported yesterday, members of the Aslef drivers' union are to strike this Friday and Saturday over a pay dispute. Around 90 drivers and staff are to stage a 48-hour strike which Aslef said would result in “some inconvenience” to passengers.
Eurostar said it would use French and Belgian drivers to cover the affected services from London St Pancras, Ashford and Ebbsfleet to France and Belgium.
If the dispute is not resolved, further strikes are planned for December 26 and 27.
For more information visit eurostar.com.
