More strikes to disrupt Olympics

Train drivers are to go ahead with three days of strikes during the Olympics. It is expected that 450 East Midlands Trains (EMT) drivers will walk out on August 6, 7 and 8. EMT accused drivers' union Aslef of being "hell bent on disrupting the Games". Managers met union representatives on Friday. EMT said an agreement was ready to be signed off by union's executive committee but instead the union informed the company that it would go ahead with the action. EMT has pledged to lay on 30 journeys a day in each direction – 50 percent of normal capacity. Passengers will also be able to use their tickets on Virgin, East Coast, Greater Anglia, TransPennine Express, Northern and CrossCountry services.

Meanwhile workers at South West Trains have confirmed they will also take industrial action during the Olympics in a row over a Games bonus payment. Up to 1,000 members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union at South West Trains will work to rule, including a ban on overtime, from Friday, the day of the opening ceremony, to August 12, the last day of the Games. Union members at the firm, which runs services across the South East into London Waterloo, rejected going on strike but voted for other forms of action. Union members working on the London bike hire scheme will strike for 48 hours from Friday morning in a similar row. Hundreds of RMT members employed by Transport for London will also go on strike over the first weekend of the Games after failing to secure a deal over a bonus. South West Trains said it would run a full service during the Games despite the overtime ban.