- Train Strike Disrupts Brighton Pride Amid Storm Antoni’s Arrival
- Train Driver’s Union Overtime Ban Affects Thameslink Services to Brighton
- Pride Organizers and Attendees Express Disappointment Over Travel Disruption
Storm Antoni will bring strong gusts and heavy rain to the beach resort all day Saturday.
As a result of a train strike, there will be no trains to or from Brighton station today, disrupting the most popular Pride event in the United Kingdom.
The train driver’s union ASLEF informed railway operators of its ban on overtime work beginning on 5 August, preventing Thameslink services from reaching the south coast.
Instead, its Brighton trains will stop at Three Bridges in Crawley, 23 miles from Pride.
Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning in anticipation of Storm Antoni, which is expected to pummel the coastal town with strong winds and torrential rains for the majority of the day.
Thameslink, a subsidiary of the largest railway franchise in the United Kingdom, GTR, announced the news with a “heavy heart” and urged Pride attendees to find alternative transport to the event, recognizing how “extremely difficult” this would be.
The train operator added in a statement that its “ultimate goal [was] to keep people safe on this occasion.”
“Truly heartbreaking news”
In response to the travel disruption, Pride’s managing director, Paul Kemp, vehemently opposed GTR’s decision to completely close on Saturdays.
Mr. Kemp expressed his disappointment in a statement: “This will come as a tremendous shock not only to Pride and the LGBTQ+ community but also to all the businesses preparing to welcome visitors to our city from the UK and around the world.
“Many Pride visitors have already reserved and paid for accommodations for Saturday night in the city. They will now have to change their plans or find an alternate way to enter the city.”
The news is genuinely devastating for everyone.
Sunday train service will operate to and from Brighton as the Pride celebrations continue tomorrow.
