Heathrow Express drivers to strike

The Heathrow Express runs trains every 15 minutes

Train drivers on the Heathrow Express are to stage three one-day strikes next month in a row over union recognition.

Members of the drivers' union Aslef have voted to walk out on 3, 10 and 12 October.

The link from Paddington in central London to Heathrow Airport in west London has been running for five years and is used by 14,000 passengers a day.

A spokesman for airport operator BAA, which runs Heathrow Express, said 41 Aself members had voted for industrial action.

"We are working on contingency plans but we intend to run as full a service as possible", he said.

There are just over 100 Aslef members on Heathrow Express, mostly drivers, out of a total workforce of 236.

The company claimed workers wanted representation to be shared between Aslef and a staff assocation.

But the union is said to fear this would mean having little clout in pay negotiations, reducing Aslef's traditional strength.