HUNDREDS of rail passengers in Worcestershire will be affected by three days of strike action by Central Trains' drivers.

Train drivers are set to stage three 24-hour strikes in February in protest at a decision to reduce the grade of two drivers from the Cambridge depot.

Members of Aslef recently voted in favour of strikes, with a 60 per cent majority.

The first strike will take place on Saturday, February 12. This will be followed by action on Saturday, February 19 and then Saturday, February 26.

The union said it had selected Saturdays to minimise disruption to passengers.

Central Trains said it would be running a special timetable on these dates.

This is due to be released next week.

The operator had to cancel all its services on Sunday, January 2 after drivers failed to agree overtime conditions and declined to work extra hours.

Central Trains provides the bulk of rail services across the Midlands and into East Anglia, the North West and Wales.