The chaos caused by the first round of train strikes has prompted calls for unions to halt further industrial action.

The strikes which affected National Express East Anglia (NEEA) services last Thursday and Friday caused major disruption for north Essex commuters, and more are planned for every Thursday and Friday this month ending on the 21.

Rail users and Essex County Council have hit out at the action by RMT and ASLEF over pay and working conditions, saying it is extremely damaging to businesses during the recession.

The unions have also been criticised for being “greedy” in pushing for pay increases when many people are being forced to accept pay cuts or are losing their jobs.

David Bigg, chairman of Witham and Braintree Rail Users’ Association, said: “The root cause of it is they want more money basically, and in this general economic climate - we are in a recession after all - the general view is that it was unnecessary and put more jobs at risk.”

He added: “They have done themselves no favours. In the public eye they are seen, dare I say it, in the same bracket as the bankers a year ago.”

Norman Hume, cabinet member for highways and transportation at Essex County Council, said the action would “simply alienate residents and is counter-productive.”

Mr Bigg said last Thursday and Friday the service from Kelvedon, Witham and Hatfield Peverel had been hourly, with an extra train for Witham on the Thursday, and there had been an hourly service from Stansted Airport.

But he said there had been no trains from Braintree to Witham, adding how buses should have been laid on for users.

He described how some commuters were forced to sleep on office floors, but added how others were able stay with friends or relatives, and some companies had laid on coaches for employees or put them up in hotels.

On Monday NEEA managing director Andrew Chivers apologised to those affected by the strike, adding the firm was “disappointed” the action had been called despite an offer of a salary increase above the rate of inflation.

A statement by train drivers’ union ASLEF said the dispute was not just about pay, but also the poor industrial relations that have existed in the company for a long time.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the strike had been caused by “greedy National Express bosses.”

For information on rail services visit www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com.