Second walkout by rail freight drivers

Thousands of train drivers at Britain's largest rail freight company walked out for the second time in a fortnight after talks on pay and conditions stalled again this week.

More than 2,500 drivers from English, Welsh and Scottish Railways (EWS) joined picket lines across the country, leading to the cancellation of around 200 trains.

An identical strike took place last Saturday after two separate offers were rejected by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) and Aslef unions.

But EWS spokesman Graham Meiklejohn offered an olive branch to the two unions saying the company was committed to further talks.

He said: "We are ready to discuss this with both unions at any date and any time to further progress."

Although no new offer was made to the unions this week, two were put on the table last Friday.

The first was for a 2% increase in basic pay this year and a further 2% next year, including a reduction in the working week to 35 hours by April 2004.

The alternative offer would have given drivers a 4.7% rise this year and a further 4.7% next year with no change in hours.

"We have provided one package which would deliver an aspiration for a 35-hour week and an alternative package which delivers aspirations for a maximum increase in pay while still maintaining the current 37-hour week," Mr Meiklejohn said.

Aslef spokesman Andrew Murray said that a 35-hour week was the "central issue" in the dispute.

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