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Rail strike disrupts passengers Rail strike disrupts passengers
(about 5 hours later)
Thousands of rail passengers face disruption for the next 48 hours as National Express East Anglia workers go on strike over pay and conditions.Thousands of rail passengers face disruption for the next 48 hours as National Express East Anglia workers go on strike over pay and conditions.
Trains in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex will be affected, including routes into London and Stansted airport.Trains in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex will be affected, including routes into London and Stansted airport.
National Express warned it would only be able to run limited services and no replacement buses are available.National Express warned it would only be able to run limited services and no replacement buses are available.
The strike is by the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) and Aslef unions.The strike is by the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) and Aslef unions.
A further three strikes are planned for next month.A further three strikes are planned for next month.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said he didn't want to disrupt passengers - but he felt they had no choice.RMT general secretary Bob Crow said he didn't want to disrupt passengers - but he felt they had no choice.
These passengers outside Norwich station said they had been affected
He said: "Our job only exists because we've got the public using trains. But criticism must be put in the management's way because they haven't taken us seriously at all.He said: "Our job only exists because we've got the public using trains. But criticism must be put in the management's way because they haven't taken us seriously at all.
"And if they'd got around the table in the last couple of days we could have resolved this.""And if they'd got around the table in the last couple of days we could have resolved this."
The train operator said it would be offering some services on routes including Stansted airport to London as well as between the capital and Southend, Norwich and Colchester.The train operator said it would be offering some services on routes including Stansted airport to London as well as between the capital and Southend, Norwich and Colchester.
National Express managers say the unions want a 2.5% pay rise, a four-day working week and a 4% increase in the number of train drivers.National Express managers say the unions want a 2.5% pay rise, a four-day working week and a 4% increase in the number of train drivers.
Andrew Chivers, managing director of National Express East Anglia, said the unions' demands were "totally unrealistic", especially in the current economic climate.Andrew Chivers, managing director of National Express East Anglia, said the unions' demands were "totally unrealistic", especially in the current economic climate.
"We have offered salary increases above the rate of inflation, and remain available at any time for discussions to reach a sensible, affordable and fair agreement," he said."We have offered salary increases above the rate of inflation, and remain available at any time for discussions to reach a sensible, affordable and fair agreement," he said.
"Strike action is unnecessary, simply not the solution and I would like to apologise to our customers.""Strike action is unnecessary, simply not the solution and I would like to apologise to our customers."