Train strike hits 150,000

The New Year brought rail chaos today as the start of four days of strikes crippled many of London's busiest commuter routes.

Around 150,000 travellers on South West Trains were hit by huge delays with 90per cent of services halted as the RMT rail union walked out over pay and disciplinary action against union activists.

Many passengers trying to travel into Waterloo were stranded by the start of two 48-hour strikes, lasting through today and tomorrow and then Monday and Tuesday.

The number of commuters affected is expected to rise to 200,000 next week when people return from their holiday break.

An SWT spokesman said: "The network is at a near standstill. It is complete chaos out there."

The company believes the union's real agenda is to protect RMT activist Greg Tucker after his demotion from driver to ticket collector following a safety-related incident. The union wants disciplinary measures dropped, which SWT is refusing to do.

Mr Tucker described today's disruption as "an unfortunate by-product" of justifiable strike action. He rejected SWT's claims that his position is the real cause of the strike, saying: "Only Tuesday's action is linked to my position.

"Today is about pay and is based on genuine and widespread feeling among members that they are not getting a fair deal. Of course it's regrettable that passengers are being affected but people should remember that our members will lose out on pay as well."

Rail users and passenger groups attacked the union for inflicting such devastating disruption after a year which has seen the worst delays on the railways since the Second World War.

Passengers only learned that the strikes were on five hours before the start at midnight last night following the breakdown of hours of intensive talks between SWT and RMT officials yesterday.

The London Transport Users Committee, breaking its usual policy of not commenting on industrial action, condemned the strike.

Director Rufus Barnes said: "It is wholly unacceptable for passengers to be put in this position. It is a very grim start to 2002.

"It is extraordinary the union is taking strike action over disciplinary measures before the dispute has gone to an employment tribunal."

Most routes will have no service at all because of the action by up to 2,100 RMT members.

Lines into Waterloo from busy stations such as Woking and Guildford will have one train an hour at best. The union says it tried every means possible to avoid the strike but was forced to take action on behalf of guards, station staff and ticket collectors to win them the same pay increases as drivers.

An RMT spokesman today said the action was being "very well supported".

SWT said it was " bitterly disappointed" at the union's decision to reject an improved pay offer for guards and station staff which it says is the equivalent of 15per cent over two-and-a-half years.

A spokeswoman for the Stagecoach-owned SWT said: "Once again, our passengers are paying the price for the RMT's inflexibility. We have moved significantly over pay and offered an excellent deal in comparison with other operators."

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