Trains are being cancelled and delayed on First Capital Connect routes, as a result of a drivers' ban on overtime and rest day working which industry sources have suggested is linked to pay talks.
The disruption is now into its second week. Although the number of cancellations has been relatively small, many trains are being delayed. There have also been some reactionary delays to East Midlands Trains services, which share the route between London and Bedford.
In a statement, FCC said: "This isn't official action by any union, and is a combination of drivers not working rest days or overtime. We rely on drivers to work a combination of overtime and rest days to operate the service. We are working hard to ensure we operate with as little disruption as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused."
Both ASLEF and the RMT said no formal dispute had been declared, but neither union could throw any light on the cause of the ban. The problem appears to be confined to Thameslink: a full service was reported to be running on the Great Northern route on Tuesday morning (3 November).
Some joint Southeastern/FCC services which should be running through to Kentish Town or beyond have been curtailed, because no FCC driver has been available to take them north of Blackfriars.