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Decision due on major rail strike Train drivers strike called off
(about 1 hour later)
A train drivers' union will decide later whether to go ahead with a major strike which is set to cripple services across southern England. A train strike which threatened to cripple services across southern England has been called off.
Two 24-hour strikes on South West Trains (SWT) are due to take place on Friday and Monday. Drivers for South West Trains (SWT) were planning two 24-hour walkouts on Friday and Monday.
Tens of thousands of commuters take SWT services into London's Waterloo station on week days during rush hour. But the union Aslef suspended the industrial action following talks with the company on Thursday.
During the last strike on 29 August, many people took the day off work or drove in to avoid the trains. The dispute began over drivers' use of taxis, but escalated when SWT used managers to drive trains during a previous strike.
SWT FACTS Places served include Windsor, Reading, Guildford, Plymouth, Weymouth, Bournemouth, Southampton, Portsmouth and BrightonOperates 1,700 services a dayCarries a total of 400,000 passengers a dayTakes 350,000 passengers into and out of WaterlooMore than 80,000 commuters travel to Waterloo in the morning rush hour Day off work
During the last walkout on 29 August, many people took the day off work or drove in to avoid the trains.
Many services into Waterloo did not run, while buses replaced trains in some parts of the South East.Many services into Waterloo did not run, while buses replaced trains in some parts of the South East.
SWT is again advising commuters to avoid rush hour travel on the trains altogether if possible and seek other routes. Tens of thousands of commuters take SWT services into London's Waterloo station on week days during rush hour.
Emergency timetables were handed out to commuters across south-west and south-east England on Wednesday.
Later SWT and the Aslef union discussed options to resolve the row, which began as a dispute over drivers' use of taxis but escalated when SWT used managers to drive trains during a previous strike.
If the strike by hundreds of drivers goes ahead, on many routes there will be no trains at all and only one in five is likely to run overall if the row is not resolved.
SWT usually runs 1,700 trains every weekday between Waterloo and areas including Bristol, Plymouth, Reading, Surrey, Weymouth and Brighton.SWT usually runs 1,700 trains every weekday between Waterloo and areas including Bristol, Plymouth, Reading, Surrey, Weymouth and Brighton.