South Essex commuters are to face more misery if train guards decide to strike.

Thousands of guards across the country - including 120 working on the c2c line between Shoebury and London Fenchurch Street - will start voting today on whether to stage a walkout.

It follows six months of disruption last year as staff went on strike over the need for guards on the new hi-tech Electrostar trains, which are now fully in operation.

The dispute is a long-running row over their safety role after moves to switch responsibility for the train from guards to drivers in the late 1990s.

A spokesman for c2c said: "As it stands, we need to have guards to run the trains so the effect this will have on passengers would depend on how many didn't come to work for whatever reason. At the moment, we do not know what is going to happen.

"It is a national ballot which means all guards will be given the opportunity to vote on this issue."

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union has accused most train operators of failing to honour a commitment to restore guards' safety duties.

The result of the ballot is due early next month. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said rail operators GNER had reached a deal with the union.

First Great Eastern services between Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria do not have guards and have been one man operated for a number of years.

The company only employs a small number of guards for some peak hour services to Clacton and Colchester, where old slam door trains are still used.

These are due to be phased out in the near future.

Peter Slattery, of Southend Rail Travellers' Association, said: "As commuters we're not looking forward to this - it's very bad news. What the unions can gain from this I don't know."

Published Monday, February 24, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo