Thousands of commuters face rail chaos as strike looms

THOUSANDS of rail passengers could be left stranded in the run up to Christmas as a breakaway branch of train drivers look set to begin strike action in a bitter dispute over union recognition.

The results of a strike ballot of 100 former Irish Locomotive Driver's Association (ILDA) drivers, now represented by the ATGWU, will become known this afternoon.

But former ILDA boss Brendan Ogle, who led workers through several stoppages including a 10-week lock-out in 2000, said he expected the ballot to be passed.