Commuters face a wave of rail disruptions to welcome in the New Year after South West Trains' staff voted in favour of strike action.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are due to stage a series of 24-hour walk-outs over pay and conditions.

More than 2,000 members of staff will take part in the strikes planned for Thursday, Friday, next Monday and Tuesday.

The strike action follows a row over what the union claims is an unfair decision to pay drivers twice as much as other employees.

Vernon Hince, RMT acting general secretary, said: "Our members have stated loud and clear that they expect equal treatment across the board."

However, SWT maintains the four per cent pay increase put forward was very reasonable.

It says it has offered to negotiate with the union and has repeatedly sought arbitration talks, but the offers were knocked back.

A spokesman for the rail operator said: "We are bitterly disappointed for our passengers that the RMT has indicated its intention to take action."

He added: "They have chosen once again to go down the route of maximum disruption."

Train crew members at the company have also voted in favour of industrial action in a separate ballot over the abuse of disciplinary procedures.

Their decision could result in yet more strikes for frustrated rail users.

December 31, 2001 12:00