Third day of trains chaos as drivers refuse overtime

Commuters experienced a third day of delays today as drivers on one of London's busiest rail lines refused to work overtime.

Almost half the 400 services on the Bedford to Brighton line, calling at King's Cross, Blackfriars and Gatwick, were axed in a dispute over pay. Operator First Capital Connect said disruption would continue "until further notice".

Today an apologetic Sir Moir Lockhead, chief executive of parent company First Group, called for the system that allowed drivers to disrupt the timetable to be reviewed.

Aslef, the train drivers' union, is holding a ballot for strike action, which is expected to win support for stoppages to start days before Christmas.

The Government is taking over ownership until 2011 of the King's Cross to Scotland route from midnight, promising East Coast Main Line passengers will be better fed and will not have to pay a hated £2.50 charge to reserve a seat. Franchise holder National Express had to hand back the route after it recorded huge financial losses.