A RAIL strike planned for the opening day of the Six Nations could yet hit the buffers.
Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) is considering court action to halt a strike which could cause chaos in Cardiff next Friday night when Wales host England.
Bosses at the train operator have said its offer of a 12 per cent pay increase over two years — taking a driver's basic salary to �39,117 — was "very generous".
The union RMT disputes the 12 per cent figure, saying the rise for this year is 3.7 per cent and claims it is an effective pay cut.
Mike Williams, of Clydach, was planning to head to the Millennium Stadium by train on Friday with his wife Carole, who is junior secretary at Vardre Rugby Club, and their two teenaged sons.
"It's spoiling everything because people are going to have to travel by car," said Mr Williams. "We will have to set off earlier — it's going to be chock-a-block."
The self-employed builder said he did not sympathise with the train drivers.
"There are people out there who have not got jobs," he said.
"These train drivers are always going on strike. I only worked two days this week, and I've got two days next week. We are all in the same boat."
Friday night kick-off times for rugby internationals have had a mixed response.
An estimated 32,000 fans usually use ATW services on match days.
An ATW spokesman told the Post late yesterday afternoon: "We are currently reviewing the RMT's proposed (strike) action to see whether it is lawful, and we are working with legal representatives to ascertain whether there are grounds to mount a challenge.
"A further meeting is scheduled with the RMT on Monday, and we have also asked them to use Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) to resolve the issue."
He added: "We are continuing to do everything we can to bring this situation to a resolution, and we would urge the RMT to suspend their action for this important rugby event and to accept this generous pay offer."
A union spokesperson said: "Our dispute is not with the rugby fans of Wales or England, our dispute is with ATW.
"We decide on our tactics to force the issue with the company. We have to look at all the options.
"It has forced the company to take this issue seriously.
"We're not doing this to disrupt people who are going to the rugby."
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones has called on both sides to negotiate.
ATW employs 617 drivers of which 129 are in the RMT, with the remainder in the Aslef union. ATW does not expect the other drivers to cross the picket line.
One Swansea rugby fan said Friday night kick-offs were a turn-off. "By the time the game finishes there's a bigger scrum for the train," he said.
richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk
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