There will huge train strikes the first day after Christmas holidays

Arriva Trains Wales have announced mass train strikes on 4 January 2016 – the day most students are expected to travel back to Aber after the Christmas holidays.

Due to the long-lasting disputes over salaries and working conditions, the train company announced further industrial action.

The latest talks between the company and its drivers broke down again as no agreement could be reached.

It remains to be seen whether replacement buses will be put in place to cope with the demand.

The trade union Aslef announced that due to Arriva Trains Wales reneging on the agreed disputes resolution the union is forced to re-ballot their members for industrial action.

Students have been worried about train delays and cancellations in recent months, although the last two-day strike was averted as both union and Arriva Trains agreed on further negotiations.

But this time the industrial action would fall on the day during which most Aber students are expected to return to university to sit their examinations after the Christmas holidays.

So far there is no information on whether replacement services and buses will be provided in order to deal with the masses of students that will be travelling back to Aberystwyth in early January.

Aslef’s executive committee said: “The general secretary be instructed to advise the HR director of Arriva Trains Wales that their failure to make an acceptable 2015 pay offer is not acceptable.

“Further, the general secretary be instructed to advise the HR Director that all our driver members employed by Arriva Trains Wales will be withdrawing their labour from 00.01 to 23:59 on the January 4, 2016.

“All our members employed by Arriva Trains Wales will also not work non-contractual overtime from 00:01 hrs on Monday 28 December 2015 until further notice.”

Gareth Thomas, Human Resources Director for Arriva Trains Wales, added: “We are disappointed that train driver union members have rejected the current offer of increased pay. ATW management will do all it can to avert this unnecessary threat of imposed disruption to our customers and we are continuing an open and constructive dialogue with union representatives.”

“Dates for talks between ATW management and union executives have been offered during week commencing 21 December, when we hope to resolve this dispute.

“Our immediate focus is to negotiate the soonest possible agreement with the unions regarding train drivers conditions so that, together, we can keep our promise to our customers.”