Main rail lines could be closed on Sundays

Rail services on busy London routes could be closed on Sundays as train drivers refuse to work overtime.

This would cost the capital's businesses tens of millions of pounds in the run-up to Christmas as shoppers turn to complexes outside London.

Sunday services on many routes serving the capital are operated by drivers on a voluntary overtime basis. Trains on First Capital Connect's route from King's Lynn and Hertfordshire into King's Cross were axed yesterday when drivers refused to work.

Two months ago, Sunday services on London Midland into St Pancras - operated by Go Ahead -suffered the same fate. Drivers at both companies are involved in pay disputes.

Now there are fears that drivers could regularly refuse to work weekend overtime to force pay increases.