A UNION-BASHING bureaucrat who promised “punch-ups” with train drivers has apologised — but unions said yesterday his “half-hearted” platitudes had failed to restore their faith.

Department for Transport (DfT) passenger services director Peter Wilkinson said that train drivers who resisted changes to working hours could “get the hell out of my industry.”

According to local newspaper the Croydon Advertiser, he told a public meeting organised by Tory MP Gavin Barwell in the London suburb that train drivers received salaries of £60,000 a year.

“I’m furious about it and it has got to change. We have got to break them,” he said.

“They have all borrowed money to buy cars and got credit cards … They will have to decide if they want to give a good service or get the hell out of my industry.”

He added: “Over the next three years we’re going to be having punch ups and we will see industrial action and I want your support.”

After attracting the ire of union leaders and rank-and-file drivers, Mr Wilkinson apologised late on Monday night “for any offence caused.”

A DfT spokesman said Mr Wilkinson had done the right thing.

But train drivers’ union Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “The bland, unacceptable non-apology from Mr Wilkinson does nothing to restore faith or trust in the DfT for those in the front line and who deliver the railway every day.

“We shall look forward to the promised £60,000 salary and short working week that he stipulated in every future franchise as a base line and, as for the lies about breaks, we are happy to insist on those, too.”