TRAFFIC CHAOS PREDICTED FOR NEXT WEEK

Motoring organisations are predicting chaos on the roads of West London on Monday and Tuesday as a result of a strike on the trains

South West Trains will be running a much reduced service during the 48-hour strike and the chances are that there will be no service at all on the Hounslow loop line which links local stations to Waterloo. There is not expected to be a service at Chiswick station. Stagecoach which owns South West Trains has said it will try to lay on extra coaches on Monday and Tuesday to ferry commuters from stations where there are no trains to stations still being served.

 


Something you won't be seeing on Monday and Tuesday

The RAC is urging people to work from home if possible warning that traffic movement in West London will be very slow indeed.

The worst affected roads locally are likely to be the A3 and the A316. During previous strikes the A4 and A40 have been heavily congested but have generally still flowed.

Further strikes are planned on February 12 and 13. Up to date details of strike day services are also available from National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.

One outstanding dispute is over the demotion of union official Greg Tucker from train driving duties. The RMT have accused SW Trains management of victimisation but MD Andrew Haines responded by saying, "We absolutely refute this. Mr Tucker was demoted from his position of driver and after a final warning committed yet another safety breach. He has been treated exactly the same as other members of staff in similar disciplinary circumstances. "

Mr Haines clearly feels that the action is more about a union official than pay. He said, "Throughout our dealings with the union, it has been made clear that for some in the RMT hierarchy, the dispute over pay could be resolved if Mr Tucker were reinstated in his job. Our message is clear: we will not compromise on the question of safety by reinstating him."

Map of Services during action from SW Trains

The Greg Tucker Limerick Competition