'400 trains' on SWT strike days

South West Trains plans to run more than 400 trains, a quarter of the normal service, during next week's 48-hour strike.

That is many more than operated during the previous two 48- hour stoppages ordered by the RMT Union in a row over pay and the alleged victimisation of union officials by the Stagecoach-owned company.

Trains will operate into Waterloo main line station on several routes where services were halted during the previous strikes.

Officially, the company says it is better organised to cope with the stoppages, but it also hopes that some staff previously on strike will return to work.

There will also be 100 coaches to ferry passengers to stations where trains are operating and to take others direct to London.

The strikes have been ordered for Thursday and Friday of next week, 24 and 25 January. Services will operate for the first time during strike days from busy commuter stations such as Effingham Junction and Aldershot and there will be a fast service from Portsmouth to Waterloo, plus peak-time services into London from Bournemouth and Salisbury.

Extra trains will also run from Haslemere Ascot and Woking in addition to those operated last time from Guildford, Southampton and Basingstoke.

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