Fifth strike day for commuter trains

Rail services on one of London's busiest commuter networks are expected to be disrupted today for the fifth successive day as the dispute descends into farce. Management said talks were to go ahead in an attempt to resolve a dispute over pay and working practices, but Aslef, the train drivers' union, insisted that none were planned.

The ban on overtime and rest-day working by train drivers at Connex South Central yesterday caused the cancellation of around 300 trains, with some 100 failing to complete their journeys. A similar level of disruption is expected today on the services, which operate from Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire into London Bridge and Victoria.