CONNEX said today it would take legal action against the train drivers' union whose members are refusing to work overtime and rest days.

It has had to cancel scores of services into London from Sussex over the past two days because drivers have stopped working overtime.

The company, which has two divisions, Connex SouthEastern and Connex SouthCentral, is threatening to withdraw train services on Millennium Eve and New Year's Day if the row is not settled.

The company has announced it is to take Aslef to the High Court in London tomorrow.

"Our legal advisers will be issuing proceedings in the High Court to prevent the union's illegal action from impacting further on our customers," said a Connex spokesman today.

Aslef said it was not aware of the legal moves, adding that talks would be held between the two sides on Thursday to try to resolve the dispute.

The union's general secretary, Mick Rix, said: "I believe Connex trying to pin the blame on a fantasy dispute because it doesn't have enough staff to man its trains."

The union is seeking a four-hour reduction in the working week to 35 hours.

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