Kingston Area Travellers' Association

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union announced the strike as part of a long-running dispute over the role of the company’s conductors.

Members of the union will strike from 00.01 on Thursday December 22 until the last trains on Christmas Eve. They will walk out again on New Year’s Eve, until just before midnight on January 2.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said the action was forced following the “sheer pig-headedness of the company and the Government.”

Commuters are being shepherded onto replacement buses as South West Trains carries out “vital repair work”. The rail provider closed the line between Shepperton and Teddington for engineering works to be carried out at the tunnel at Fulwell for the next two weeks. Buses are replacing trains between Shepperton and Teddington and between Shepperton and Strawberry Hill during peak hours.

New hybrid double decker buses are being introduced around Putney in an attempt to reduce emissions. A total of 15 Euro VI low emissions buses will be put into use on the 85 bus route between Kingston and Putney Bridge.

Taxpayers could end up out of pocket because not enough private firms want to bid to run rail franchises in England and Wales, MPs have warned.

A lack of competition between companies bidding to operate routes could mean the government struggles to get value for money, a report by the Public Accounts Committee said. MPs said it was "not clear" when rail users will see higher quality services.

The government has shortlisted two train firms as it narrows down the list of potential winners of the South Western franchise competition. First South Western Trains and Stagecoach South West have made it to the final stage to secure the contract for one of the busiest routes in the country. Bidders will now need to demonstrate how they will "deliver better journeys for passengers", the Department for Transport said.