Trains cut over 4-day week

London's newest commuter train company is being forced to cancel hundreds of services because of the four-dayweek deal for drivers agreed by its predecessor.

Delays could continue until Christmas because of a shortage of drivers. Govia, new owner of South Central, which serves some of the busiest routes into London including the Brighton line, says it is having to cancel trains principally because Connex agreed a 35-hour, fourday week with Aslef, the drivers' union.

The deal came into force just four weeks before Connex relinquished control to Govia on 30 September. A senior source said: "Lawyers will be studying the fine print about this."

A South Central spokesman said: "We have had problems with a large number of drivers being on holiday because of the school half term. The deal done by Connex is causing us problems.

"We are meeting with the union today to try and sort it out."

The company now plans to publish a revised timetable. The company admits it is 60 drivers short of full complement and it will be Christmas before 35 currently in training are qualified.