THE SECOND day of a 48-hour strike on train services to and from Stansted Airport is set to cause delays and frustration for passengers using the commuter rail link. The National Express East Anglia train strike enters its final day today (Friday) and a l

THE SECOND day of a 48-hour strike on train services to and from Stansted Airport is set to cause delays and frustration for passengers using the commuter rail link.

The National Express East Anglia train strike enters its final day today (Friday) and a limited service remains in place.

Only an hourly service will run between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, calling at Tottenham Hale, Harlow Town and Bishop's Stortford.

Although the services should run to the maximum number of carriages it is very likely they will be extremely busy and passengers have been advised to spread their journey times.

Members of the ASLEF and RMT trade unions are to hold a series of 48-hour strikes after a dispute over this year's pay award.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said on Wednesday: "The strikes on National Express East Anglia come down to one simple fact - this is a greedy company, pumped full of public subsidies who now expect their staff to take a hit on their pay and working conditions while the top bosses fatten up their profits at the expense of the travelling public and the workforce.

"National Express has already created chaos through the impending collapse of its franchise on the East Coast route and under the franchise rules they should be given notice to quit on East Anglia and C2C lines. The sooner the Government kicks them of the tracks and renationalises all their franchises the better."

Managing director of National Express East Anglia, Andrew Chivers, said: "The unions' demands are totally unrealistic, especially in this current economic climate.

"We have offered salary increases above the rate of inflation, and remain available at any time for discussions to reach a sensible, affordable and fair agreement.

"Strike action is unnecessary, simply not the solution and I would like to apologise to our customers."

A further three strikes could follow next month, should talks between the parties break down again.

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