Aslef boss Mick Whelan: ‘There’s no cost to the economy in running rail properly’

Head of train drivers' union takes pride in calling very few strikes - but enough is enough, he says

Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef, prides himself in rarely calling a strike since taking the helm in 2011. Now though, three years since most of his members last had a pay rise, industrial action looks increasingly likely.

Ballots close on Monday at eight major train operators where drivers are voting to back strikes, and three more are due in a fortnight - potentially giving Whelan the power to bring most of the railway around England to a halt.

I don't understand how the government buys trains that end up in the hands of rolling stock companies at low cost and then rented back to the industry at high rates.