Christmas misery on Eurostar

Thousands of passengers heading off to Paris and Brussels for the Christmas and New Year holidays suffered travel chaos today when strike action disrupted the Eurostar Channel Tunnel services at one of the busiest times of the year.

Five trains from Waterloo International station to the European capitals were cancelled while thousands more passengers travelling to London from Paris and Brussels were delayed when seven inbound services were withdrawn.

The dispute - over pay rates for UK train managers - was exacerbated by a separate and on-going strike by French Eurostar drivers, again over wages.

Aslef, the UK train drivers' union, has ordered five more 24-hour strikes to take place on 4, 6, 9, 18 and 20 January. The longrunning-dispute is the result of yet another row caused by the escalating pay rates of train drivers - the same situation which has led to two 48-hour strikes on South West Train services, planned for next month.

The 18-carriage Eurostars carry train managers; these are separate from and in addition to the drivers, and look after the general running of the service. They are also trained to take over driving duties in an emergency. Under the regulations all passenger trains using the Channel Tunnel must carry a stand-by driver.

The managers are members of Aslef, which has just concluded a deal which will push the rate for its Eurostar drivers up to £40,000 by the end of next year. The train managers, however, earn £24,000. The union says the gap between the two grades used to be £6,000 but has now increased to £16,000.

An Aslef spokesman said: "Eurostar train managers play a vital role. It is long overdue that this is recognised by the employer."

A Eurostar spokesman said passengers from Waterloo wishing to travel should turn up on time and would be given seats on later trains.

? An investigation has been launched after a train hit the buffers at Charing Cross station on Wednesday. The slow speed collision involved a late-night South Central service from Tattenham Corner. The driver has told investigators that he was tired. There were no injuries.