Rail union to step up strikes

Train passengers face a summer of disruption. Rail union leaders last night decided to escalate industrial action after confirming that tomorrow's 24-hour signal strike will go ahead.

The executive of the RMT transport union called further day-long stoppages on Wednesday next week and the week after, and threatened to strike two days a week from 24 July unless the dispute is settled.

Jimmy Knapp, leader of the union, said he was confident the 4,600 signal workers would paralyse the network for the fourth time. BR ran more than 10 per cent of the normal 15,000 trains last Wednesday and hopes to do better tomorrow.

The union is seeking a pay increase 'up front' for productivity achieved over the past six years, but Railtrack has tabled an offer which depends on fresh efficiency measures.