TRAIN drivers at one of the country's biggest rail operators are to stage a four-day strike in a row over pay, threatening travel chaos for hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Several hundred drivers at South West Trains will walk out on March 31, April 1, 2 and 3 in protest at a 4.5% wage offer.
The company, which runs services across the South East into London's Waterloo station, warned it will only be able to run a limited train service, with some bus replacements, if the stoppage goes ahead.
South West Trains said the offer would give a driver working in the London area a basic salary before overtime of £40,447 for a 37-hour, 4.4-day week.
All other trades unions offered the deal have accepted it or recommended it to their non-driver members in a ballot, said the company.
Managing director Stewart Palmer said: "We regret the significant disruption this will cause to our passengers and we reassure them that we will do everything we can to avoid this strike taking place.
"We are very disappointed that Aslef has taken this decision as we believe that this is a very good offer in the current economic climate."
Aslef said talks will be held with the company on Thursday.
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