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Rail strike on after talks falter Rail strike on after talks falter
(about 7 hours later)
Strike action on some of the busiest railway lines into London has begun after talks failed between unions and National Express.Strike action on some of the busiest railway lines into London has begun after talks failed between unions and National Express.
It is the third 48-hour strike to affect trains between London and Essex Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, It is the third 48-hour strike to affect trains between London and Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire,
A spokesman for Aslef said the union's executive had also decided to call a full week of strike action next month.A spokesman for Aslef said the union's executive had also decided to call a full week of strike action next month.
The action is by members of Aslef, the RMT union and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA).The action is by members of Aslef, the RMT union and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA).
It started at 0001 Thursday and will end at 2359 BST on Friday.It started at 0001 Thursday and will end at 2359 BST on Friday.
National Express East Anglia said "most services will not run" adding that any trains which did run were expected to be "extremely busy".National Express East Anglia said "most services will not run" adding that any trains which did run were expected to be "extremely busy".
The dispute is over pay and conditions.The dispute is over pay and conditions.
'Another planet''Another planet'
An Aslef spokesman said negotiations had become "increasingly fractious and unproductive" and three days of meetings had resulted in "no notable progress".An Aslef spokesman said negotiations had become "increasingly fractious and unproductive" and three days of meetings had resulted in "no notable progress".
Aslef leader Keith Norman accused National Express management of living "on another planet".Aslef leader Keith Norman accused National Express management of living "on another planet".
"Train drivers voted by 95% to 5% to back industrial action: the RMT vote was of a similar level and this week the TSSA has joined the three-week dispute," he said."Train drivers voted by 95% to 5% to back industrial action: the RMT vote was of a similar level and this week the TSSA has joined the three-week dispute," he said.
National Express East Anglia management seemed not to realise it had a problem and showed "no sign of doing anything to remedy it" added Mr Norman. National Express East Anglia management seemed not to realise it had a problem and showed "no sign of doing anything to remedy it", added Mr Norman.
According to the company's website, limited services will run into Liverpool Street from Stansted Airport, Southend Victoria Norwich and Colchester. The rail company said it had done "everything possible" to halt the strikes and will run a limited service on some routes, similar to previous strike days but with a few additional trains.
It claims it improved its pay offer to a further 1.5% in 2009, and a minimum of 2% again in 2010, which in the case of train drivers is on top of the 4.6% increase received in 2008.
'Determined to disrupt'
Managing director Andrew Chivers said Aslef's expectations were out of touch with what most workers in the UK are experiencing during the current economic climate.
"We have improved our offer further, putting more cash on the table, but after reaching what we believed to be a deal, Aslef withdrew their agreement," he added.
"Aslef are simply determined to continue to disrupt the lives of thousands of people completely unnecessarily.
"We have asked them as a sign of good faith to halt the strikes, they refused. We have asked them to table the improved offer to staff, they refused."
There will be an hourly service to Liverpool Street from Stansted Airport, Southend Victoria Norwich and Colchester.
National Express said it also planned to run a small number of off-peak services between Norwich and Colchester, with connections to and from London, and a morning and evening peak train between Cambridge and Liverpool Street.
Tickets will be accepted on services run by c2c, First Capital Connect and East Midlands Trains during the strike.Tickets will be accepted on services run by c2c, First Capital Connect and East Midlands Trains during the strike.