Miserable trip home for commuters

The strike stranded many commuters

Thousands of rail passengers in southern Britain were forced to struggle home after the start of a two-day strike stopped 95% of South West Trains services.

Only an estimated 100 out of 1,700 SWT services ran during Thursday.

Special bus services were laid on in some areas but many travellers are thought to have stayed at home rather than brave the slog to work.

I'm really annoyed but it seems like I don't have a lot of choice

Passenger Marilla Wiggins

Those returning during Thursday's rush hour had to suffer long waits, journey times of several hours and packed carriages on the few services left running.

The action by the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) began at midnight on Wednesday after last-ditch talks to solve a pay dispute, which has dragged on for more than a year, broke down.

The strike ends on Friday night but starts again on Monday, continuing into Tuesday when the action will also be over a disciplinary procedures dispute between the two sides.

Action 'successful'

SWT runs services into London's Waterloo station - one of the UK's busiest commuter routes - where one of many RMT picket lines was set up.

Speaking at Waterloo the union's acting general secretary, Vernon Hince, hailed the action as "very successful".

Asked whether there would be further strikes beyond next week, he said: "It is up to SWT, we have said we are prepared to meet, we have attempted to resolve the issue.

The feeling among our members is solid and resolve is strong

RMT's Greg Tucker

"It's in their hands."

But rail travellers caught up in the chaos were more concerned about how they would complete their journeys.

Alex Robinson, from Ingatestone, Essex, said he was travelling to Farnborough, Hampshire, and was facing a wait of more than an hour.

Travelling in from Essex had gone smoothly but once at Waterloo he learned of the problems for the rest of his journey.

Some people drove to stations served by other train operators, such as Connex, that were not involved in the dispute.

Passengers complained of little advance warning

But the AA said there was little evidence of extra traffic on main roads into London from the South West.

The RMT is rejecting a 7.6% pay increase for train crew members over two years, and wants the deal to cover 18 months.

The company has given drivers the same rise, spread over 18 months and linked to productivity gains.

Its offer to crew was not linked to productivity but SWT said its complete offer, over three years, was worth 15%.

The two sides are also in dispute over disciplinary measures being taken against two SWT workers who are RMT representatives.

One of them, the union's Waterloo branch secretary Greg Tucker, accused SWT of trying to "fudge" the pay dispute by linking it to his case and that of his colleague.

Strike 'irresponsible'

"We are clear it is two different disputes. It is quite insulting to suggest otherwise."

The Conservative Party said the action was another effort by unions to re-establish control of the rail industry.

Transport spokesman Eric Pickles said: "Given the continuing disruptions to the rail network following [Transport Secretary] Stephen Byers' botched decision to place Railtrack in administration, the RMT's action is simply irresponsible."

His Liberal Democrat counterpart Tom Brake said rail passengers needed a strike "like a hole in the head" and called for the dispute to be resolved through talks, not strikes.