London roads set for 'absolute chaos'

Key roads to the west of London will be "absolute chaos" on Monday and Tuesday when thousands of commuters take to their cars to avoid the latest train strike, motoring organisations warned today.

South West Trains will be out of action during the 48-hour strike, with the train company and the RMT union accusing each other of agreeing to peace talks - and then refusing to set a date for the meeting.

Today, the RAC Foundation said: "It will be absolute chaos on all main roads into the capital from the west and even on the minor roads in between. It will not be a good day to be on the roads."

The foundation said it expected west London to become "extremely heavily congested", especially in the Richmond and Twickenham areas. It urged motorists to extend the weekend by working from home for one or two days if possible.

"If employees can get permission from their place of work to work from home by telephone or computer then that is what they should do," said spokesman Jonathan Simpson.

"We expect that for those who do decide to drive in it will be an extremely bad morning. Journeys through west London will be very slow indeed."

The AA, however, said that as commuters were now left with little choice, they should attempt to drive in regardless. "If commuters find they cannot trace alternative routes by train, for instance by taking diversions with different train companies, then they are going to have to drive in," said the organisation's head of policy, Paul Watters.

"The days when authorities in London would open the parks up for emergency parking have long gone but if people have to drive to work they should try sharing a car and staggering their journeys."

He added: "Fortunately, it is only one section of the network that is expected to come to a halt unlike some previous Tube strikes. But even so, it will involve thousands of people."

The AA said that the worstaffected roads would be the A3, M3, the A316 and western sections of the M25 which is usually heavily congested during the morning rush hour. Stagecoach - the parent company of South West Trains - has said it will lay on extra coaches on Monday and Tuesday to ferry commuters from stations where there are no trains to stations still being served.

It is also expected to run extra coaches directly into London to partially overcome the strike.

National Express - which is the only major firm running services from the South-West into central London - said it had seen a small rise in advance bookings for Monday and Tuesday.

Bryan Bannister, spokesman for National Express, said: "There is always an increase in demand for our services in those areas affected by disputes and wherever possible we try to ensure that those passengers who need to travel are able to do so."

"We always endeavour to provide additional coach services according to demand," he added.

Thousands of commuters, however, will still be left with little option but to use their cars.

Transport for London warned that there would be no additional parking for those attempting to enter central London by car. It was unable to offer further advice.

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