Train users were today hit by strike action after pay talks between drivers and their employer broke down.

Members of the union Aslef who work for Gatwick Express were walking out for 24 hours.

Further stoppages are planned next month on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and December 8, when England's World Cup-winning rugby union team holds a victory parade in London.

Gatwick Express said it would run a "comprehensive" service on strike days, although train numbers were expected to be cut by half. Trains usually run every 15 minutes but this will be extended to half-hourly. Other services to the airport by Thameslink and South Central were unaffected.

Gatwick Express said it offered an above-inflation pay rise of seven-and-a-half per cent over two years to drivers.

This would increase their wages to £37,000 before overtime and benefits. The deal had been improved on three occasions during five months of talks, management said.

Managing director David Stretch said: "I share the disappointment of our customers over this industrial action. What makes it worse is Aslef has included Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve as possible strike dates, inconveniencing our customers when many of them will be trying to get home to see family and friends.

"However, we shall continue to operate a comprehensive service throughout the industrial action to minimise the disruption and inconvenience caused to our passengers by Aslef's decision to strike."

The union wants a six per cent rise and maintained Gatwick Express drivers were among the lowest paid in the industry, with earnings of £28,215.

The company disputed the claim.

It argued its drivers were among the best paid, having received a 126 per cent rise in basic salaries since privatisation in 1996.

A BAA Gatwick spokesman said: "Gatwick Express will continue to operate a service throughout the industrial action to minimise disruption to passengers, while South Central and Thameslink will be running normal services between Gatwick and London Victoria and London Bridge."

Friday November 28, 2003