TRAIN drivers have defended their decision to strike today for a third time.

The latest two-day walkout by members of the RMT and Aslef unions, looks set to cause misery for thousands of commuters.

Aslef wants a minimum pay increase of 2.5 per cent, a four-day working week, and a 4 per cent increase in the number of drivers, Two local drivers taking part in the strike spoke of their sympathy for commuters, but said National Express East Anglia had left them no choice.

One of the men, who asked not to be named, said: “We don’t want to do this.

“We haven’t done it since 1982, but we knew it would come to this. There is 100 per cent support.”

Train drivers are feeling the effect of the strikes in their pockets. They will have lost eight days’ pay if a fourth round of strikes, next Thursday and Friday, also goes ahead.

The other driver said: “A lot of commuters are just wishing us good luck, but you get people who are, quite understandably, upset.

“All they hear is the management side. The feeling among drivers towards middle and lower management is at an all-time low. It’s just got worse and worse.

“When our people go into talks, they just don’t get anywhere.”

The drivers said plans to take away of an attendance allowance was one example of a sticking point in talks.

At present, it means an extra £800 a year for drivers who don’t miss any of their shifts.

In return for scrapping the allowance, they say bosses offered just £200 a year.

They are also angry management have been given bonuses.

The union action has been branded “unnecessary” by the rail company, which said, despite “huge efforts” to halt the action, union members were being unrealistic.

Talks were still going on yesterday, but the unions say strike action is still very likely.

*NATIONAL Express East Anglia has released details of services likely to run if the strike goes ahead.

An hourly service will link Liverpool Street with Colchester, Stansted Airport, and Southend Victoria stations, with a peak-time service between Norwich and Liverpool Street. A limited bus service will also run between Colchester and Clacton, along with a few off-peak services between Norwich and Colchester. For details, click the web link below.