THOUSANDS of angry commuters faced hours of rush-hour misery this week as yet another rail worker strike plunged the boroughs network into disarray.

The normally packed stations on the Waterloo line into central London were deserted as workers suffered from the on-going pay disputes between rail officials and workers.

The 48-hour industrial action on Monday and Tuesday left people facing the nightmare task of negotiating heavy traffic and an over-burdened bus network in their bid to get to work.

One fuming Hounslow commuter recounted his five hours of travelling in a single day on what is usually a 35-minute trip - and slammed the appalling services'' which have once again left innocent residents at the centre of a row which has little to do with them.

Rail operator South West Trains had tried to minimise disruptions by drafting in managers to cover for the striking guards, but to little effect in south west London.

The decision by Rail, Maritime and Transport unionists to strike for the third time in a month over pay and disciplinary actions resulted in the Hounslow loop-line service being cancelled on both days - although trains did run between Feltham, Clapham Junction and also Wimbledon.A spokeswoman from SWT explained that Hounslow loopline had been chosen for no services. The decision was not made lightly,'' she said.

We had to make tough decisions in areas where there were travel alternatives.''

Her comments failed to placate the legions of commuters who faced lengthy waits at bus stops, or battling their way through endless traffic chaos as a result.

Alan Young usually travels from Clapham to Richmond and on to Hounslow, but faced up to the prospect of three bus rides and an accumulative round trip of almost half his working day.

It's an absolute disgrace,'' he told the Times. My journey is so simple, but this strike has left me living a waking nightmare.

It's amazing that they have the gaul to strike at all. I read in the paper that train workers are among the highest paid of all public sector workers.''

The details of the strike centre on a disputed disciplinary case and demands by ticket inspectors and guards to be paid equal amounts to drivers.

Nurses and teachers get paid far less, but you don't see them downing tools at the first chance,'' Mr Young added.

It's absurd that the ticket men want the same as the drivers. That's like a cabin crew member on an aeroplane demanding the same as the pilot.

In the meantime, who is most affected? The thousands of people who pay through the nose to use the shambolic services. We're stuck in the middle and will get a raw deal whatever happens,'' he concluded.

Across London boroughs, 1,100 train services were cancelled, with only 600 trains running. SWT set up a team of 200 managers to replace strikers at the ground level. They were given training complying with national safety standards.

Standing at a bus stop, Amy Tucker, of Hounslow, told the Times on Monday, It will take me forever to get to work. The last strikes were a nightmare and I am dreading it.''

No negotiations between SWT and the RMT, largest of the rail unions, have been planned. However, RMT members met up this week to discuss pay and disciplinary matters.

Andrew Haines, managing director of SWT, said: We will be much better prepared next time. We cannot sit idly by while the RMT pursues its political agenda.''

He assured commuters that if the strikes planned by unionists for February 12th and 13th go ahead then SWT will try to run more trains.

Vernon Hince, acting general secretary of the RMT, claimed that SWT was unwilling to return to the negotiating table.

SWT trains on the Hounslow loopline, travel through Barnes Bridge, Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Brentford, Syon Lane, Isleworth, and Hounslow.