ONLY one line of London Tramlink is running today, after ASLEF drivers walked out for 24 hours over a pay dispute.

FirstGroup, which owns Transport for London contractor Tram Operations Limited, has said the drivers want a 20 per cent pay rise over three years, which is ‘unsustainable’

ASLEF says the pay of tram drivers is lower than for comparable jobs in other parts of TfL, and that ‘management are not prepared to make an offer that recognises that our members do a difficult and stressful job and deserve to be properly rewarded’. The union also claimed that pension benefits have been ‘slashed’.

A FirstGroup spokesman said ‘We have made a reasonable, above-inflation pay offer to our employees and pension benefits have not been reduced.

‘The trade union demand for a basic pay rise of 20 per cent over three years is unsustainable and we urge the trade unions to work with us to achieve an outcome that addresses their position and enables us to keep providing the best possible service.’

Transport for London is urging the two sides to resume their talks. Only Line 3 is running today, offering trams every eight minutes between Wimbledon and East Croydon. The service on other lines is suspended.