UK railway workers and strike action

Bus and train drivers

Sir, – In An Irishman’s Diary (January 12th), Frank McNally refers to an article written by former Tory MP Matthew Parris comparing the salaries of bus and train drivers, particularly that the train drivers are paid more. Perhaps if the bus driver had responsibility for driving a few hundred more passengers in additional coaches attached to the one he is driving, he would be paid more too. In the southeast of England, trains can comprise up to 12 coaches. Frank McNally should also note that the railway workers (not just train drivers) are on strike because of proposed changes to working practices and not just pay. One would expect that someone as tuned in as Matthew Parris would already be aware of that. – Yours, etc,

DANNY BOYD,

Newtownabbey,

Co Antrim.