Industrial action could continue on the nation’s railways for the next 20 years, a union boss warned today. 

Mick Whelan, the general secretary of the Aslef train drivers’ union, said his members “are going to keep taking action until someone listens to us”. 

He was told during an interview on Sky News that it appeared the Government was now ignoring his union after it rejected a pay offer and that new strike action amounted to “whistling in the wind”. 

He said: “Well, if we have to whistle in the wind for five years, 10 years, 20 years to get somebody to the table, this will be resolved at some point and somebody will talk to us properly at some point.”

Asked if Aslef members were really prepared to take industrial action over a 20 year period, Mr Whelan said: “Quite possibly. Because the option is what? To do nothing?” 

Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, described Mr Whelan’s comments as “really disappointing”. It came as people are facing fresh disruption to rail journeys in many parts of the country this week as train drivers refuse to work overtime for six days. 

Aslef announced last month that its members will withdraw non-contractual overtime, known as rest-day working, with 16 of the country’s 35 rail operators from today until Saturday July 8.

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