STRIKE talks were on a knife edge on Wednesday as SWT met the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) in a Òlast ditch attemptÓ to avert industrial action on the railway.

Described as Òyet another nail in the coffinÓ for South West Trains, the strike by RMT workers was expected to cripple the network, forcing the Alton line to a standstill.

Speaking as The Herald went to press, SWT managing director, Andrew Haines said that should the four-day strike go ahead it would do so despite the offer of a pay increase for guards and station staff equivalent to 15 per cent over three years, enhanced by a two-hour reduction in the working week.

The RMT had rejected the offer on the table and was refusing to call off the strikes scheduled for Thursday and Friday (January 3 & 4) and Monday and Tuesday (January 7 & 8).

Any such action can be expected to bring yet more misery for passengers using the Alton to Waterloo line, with people flocking in their droves to find an alternative mode of transport.

According to Alton Line UsersÕ Association (ALUA) chairman Chris Campbell, local commuters have Òexperienced so much hell over the past 18 monthsÓ that many have taken to the car.

ÒPeople are joining car-share schemes or are finding that it is just as quick and easy to drive up the motorway to Heathrow or Hounslow and get on to the underground.

ÒI know of several off-peak users who have pledged never to use the train again,Ó said Mr Campbell.

ÒSWT is really cutting its own throat as far as Alton line passengers are concerned. This strike really couldnÕt have come at a worse time. We have people threatening not to renew their season tickets if things donÕt improve.SWT has really got to get back to providing a proper, efficient service or it will go under altogether.Ó

All too aware of the anguish caused, the company is nonetheless refusing to back down, putting the blame firmly at the door of the RMT.

ÒThis was an excellent offer which we made in an attempt to save our passengers from further disruption,Ó said Mr Haines.

ÒBy rejecting it the RMT has shown beyond any doubt that this is not a dispute over pay, it is a dispute over our disciplining of union representatives.

ÒI am truly sorry that SWT will be unable to offer its passengers the service they deserve if the strikes go ahead.Ó

The union balloted its members on two issues - firstly the rejection of a four per cent pay rise, and secondly over disciplinary procedures affecting two RMT representatives.

Both members of staff, who are still employed by the company, are to have their cases heard at employment tribunals. The charges against both are said to be safety-related and, according to SWT, the proper disciplinary procedures were followed in each case.

In a statement this week, Mr Haines said: ÒThe RMT wants us to reinstate a train driver who we removed from driving because of his safety record. Despite the fact this driver was already on a final warning they want us to give him yet another chance - in other words, treat him differently to all other staff simply because he is a union representative.

ÒWe are not prepared to gamble with passengersÕ safety and do that simply to avoid a strike.Ó

Since the Alton line would grind to a halt during the strike action, a limited peak-time coach service has been organised for season ticket holders only, booking in advance from Alton and Farnham. Details have been published at both stations and coaches will run to London and back on each of the four days.

For those unable to use the coach, it may be possible to link up with restricted services running on routes between London Waterloo and Basingstoke, Haslemere, Southampton Central and Ascot, between Salisbury and Basingstoke, and between Southampton Central and Portsmouth and Southsea. These will generally start between 6 to 7 am and finish about 7 to 8 pm.

According to an SWT spokesman these services are likely to be in great demand and trains may not stop at stations en route however, season tickets should be valid even if not used on the normal line.

Passengers should note in addition that SWT will be running an amended Saturday service on January 5.

For further information about services running on strike days visit the South West Trains website at http://www.soutwesttrains.co.uk">www.soutwesttrains.co.uk or telephone National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950