TRAIN operator First Capital Connect (FCC) is advising people to make alternative arrangements if they are planning to travel to London on Sunday as there will be a very limited rail service on its great northern route owing to a lack of available drivers

TRAIN operator First Capital Connect (FCC) is advising people to make alternative arrangements if they are planning to travel to London on Sunday as there will be a very limited rail service on its great northern route owing to a lack of available drivers.

The disruption is being caused by drivers refusing to work rest days and overtime, which they are not obliged to do, following the start of pay talks.

This will mean very few FCC services from Hitchin, Stevenage, Letchworth GC and Royston stations and London.

From Hitchin and Stevenage there will be a bus service to and from Luton Airport Parkway where travellers can catch FCC Thameslink trains to and from central London stations. People planning to travel from Letchworth GC are being advised to either drive to Luton Airport Parkway or go to either Hitchin or Stevenage and get the bus service.

At Royston there will be a bus service to Whittlesford where travellers can get trains to London on the National Express East Anglia service.

National Express East Coast main line services will run as normal between Stevenage and London King's Cross. FCC tickets will also be accepted on London bus services via any reasonable route.

FCC say customers may park at any of their car parks free of charge on Sunday but warn that this does not apply to National East Anglia or National East Coast car parks.

A spokesman for FCC said: "We are currently finalising plans for Sunday. This will include bus replacements, ticket acceptance with other operators and free parking at key stations.

"We are advising customers to check the FCC website or National Rail enquiries for the latest details as close to their time of travel as possible."

The website for information is www.firstcaptialconnect.co.uk