TRAIN operators and commuters are bracing themselves for more strikes as another walkout by guards looks set to go ahead.

Central Trains will not be running any services out of Worcester on Monday, leaving commuters to drive or get the bus.

Virgin Trains will also be badly hit, with half of trains cancelled on the West Coast route, no direct services between London and North Wales, and nine out of 10 trains not running on the Virgin Cross Country line.

Commuters heading for London Paddington should be able to reach their destination as virtually all services will run as normal, although Thames Trains said there may be a small number cancelled.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Workers Union members began the series of one-day strikes yesterday, in a bid to have their safety role reinstated in the railway rule-book.

A spokesman claimed since privatisation train operators had wanted to cut back the guards' safety role to save money on training and axe them in future.

"We know a few days 'strike are an inconvenience to passengers but it is a bloody sight better than the carnage possible by reducing the guards' safety role."

Central Trains is one of the nine major companies refusing to restore the guard's role.

"Eight companies have already signed up to restore the guard's proper safety role to the rulebook, and there is no earthly reason why the others should not do so," said RMT general secretary Bob Crow

"We can only assume that they intend to diminish further the role of the guard and to extend driver-only operation, and that is completely unacceptable.

Central Trains said the strike action was "unjustified, premature and unreasonable," and called for the RMT to wait until a risk assessment evaluation had been carried out on their proposals for a rule book change.

"Central cannot and will not support changes to the operational procedures unless we are sure they will improve the safety of our passengers, staff and members of the public," said managing director Nick Brown.

First Great Western will also operate a normal table on Monday as it is one of the eight companies to agree to the proposals.

The Rail Passengers Committee for the region urged both sides to come to a swift resolution to prevent further inconvenience to passengers.

After Monday, the next planned strike is for Thursday, April 17 - Maundy Thursday - said to be the busiest day of the year for train operators.