BRITISH TRAIN DRIVERS BEGAN A "GO SLOW" STRIKE TODAY (MONDAY) THAT COULD COMPLETELY DISRUPT THE COUNTRY'S RAIL NETWORK WITHIN A WEEK. CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS IN RAIL SERVICES HAD AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT THIS MORNING -- STATIONS WERE CROWDED AND ROADS LEADING INTO LONDON WERE CLOGGED WITH TRAFFIC.

THE DISPUTE AROSE WHEN TRAIN DRIVERS OBJECTED TO GUARDS (BRAKEMEN) BEING ALLOWED TO SIT IN THE LOCOMOTIVES THEMSELVES. THE GUARD'S VANS HAVE BEEN PRONOUNCED OBSOLETE BY BRITISH RAIL, AND ARE BEING REMOVED FROM THE REAR OF TRAINS. BRITISH RAIL, ALREADY RUNNING AT A HEAVY DEFICIT, HOPES TO SAVE SOME GBP250,000 STERLING ANNUALLY BY DOING AWAY WITH GUARDS' VANS.

THE GO SLOW IS BEING LED BY MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATED SOCIETY OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS AND FIREMEN. ASLEF STANDS IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO THE MUCH LARGER NATIONAL UNION OF RAILWAYMEN, WHICH IS SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT AND BRITISH RAIL.

THE BRITISH LABOUR MINISTER, MR. RAY GUNTER, HAS CALLED IT "THE SILLIEST DISPUTE OF THE DECADE".

SOME 300,000 PEOPLE RELY ON BRITISH RAIL TO COMMUTE IN AND OUT OF LONDON EACH DAY, FROM THE SOUTH. THEIR TRAINS COULD BE CUT BY UP TO A QUARTER.

TO MEET THE EMERGENCY POLICE HAVE RELAXED PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN LONDON, AND MOTORISTS' ASSOCIATIONS ARE SETTING UP "FREE LIFT" CENTRES.

SOME EXPERTS HAVE PREDICTED THAT UNLESS THE DISPUTE IS SETTLED QUICKLY -- AND THAT SEEMS UNLIKELY NOW -- THE WHOLE BRITISH RAIL NETWORK IS LIKELY TO STOP WITHIN A WEEK.