East Midlands Trains: Olympics Aslef strike timetable announced

East Midlands Trains drivers are to strike from 6-8 August in a row over pension contribution cuts

A train timetable designed to get people to the Olympics during planned strikes over pension changes has been announced by East Midlands Trains.

The company is to run 30 trains to and from London on 6, 7 and 8 August, but said it would carry around half the normal capacity.

It said the train drivers' union Aslef was "hell-bent on disrupting the Olympics".

Aslef said it had offered the firm "numerous options" to avoid action.

David Horne, managing director for East Midlands Trains, said: "We are astounded that Aslef are still planning to go ahead with these strikes...

"Their claims that the strikes are not timed to cause disruption during the Olympics are nothing short of ludicrous."

Andy Botham, of Aslef, said: "We don't feel the Olympics should affect what's happening industrially and certainly shouldn't affect what's happening to our pensions.

"We're far from being hell-bent on disrupting the Olympics; that's the last thing we want to do."

The union said its members opposed the firm's plans to reduce both its own and staff contributions to its pension fund from July.

In June, the union suspended two strike dates to allow negotiations to take place.

The train operator said last month that the change would leave drivers £500 a year better off without affecting pension benefits.