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Southern rail strike causes 'significant' disruption for commuters Southern rail strike causes 'significant' disruption for commuters
(about 2 hours later)
Rail passengers on some of the busiest routes in the country suffered travel chaos because of a conductors’ strike, which caused a “significant” impact on services.Rail passengers on some of the busiest routes in the country suffered travel chaos because of a conductors’ strike, which caused a “significant” impact on services.
Southern warned it could not guarantee that travellers would get to their destination after members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walked out for 24 hours from 11am on Tuesday.Southern warned it could not guarantee that travellers would get to their destination after members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walked out for 24 hours from 11am on Tuesday.
The union said there was solid support for the walkout, in a dispute over the role of conductors and driver-only trains. No services were running on many routes and only a limited number on others, while queuing systems were in place at many stations that were open.The union said there was solid support for the walkout, in a dispute over the role of conductors and driver-only trains. No services were running on many routes and only a limited number on others, while queuing systems were in place at many stations that were open.
Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, said: “Our guard members on Southern are rock-solid and determined this morning as they begin this phase of industrial action in defence of the life-or-death services they provide for the travelling public and against cash-driven cuts that would see those services hacked to ribbons.Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, said: “Our guard members on Southern are rock-solid and determined this morning as they begin this phase of industrial action in defence of the life-or-death services they provide for the travelling public and against cash-driven cuts that would see those services hacked to ribbons.
“This dispute is about safety and the safety-critical role of the guards on Southern trains. The company, with an eye on ever-fatter profits, is prepared to axe the guards on some of the most overcrowded and potentially dangerous services in Britain so that they can squeeze every last penny out of their passengers regardless of the consequences. That is a lethal gamble with safety in the name of profit and that is why we have been forced to take strike action today.”“This dispute is about safety and the safety-critical role of the guards on Southern trains. The company, with an eye on ever-fatter profits, is prepared to axe the guards on some of the most overcrowded and potentially dangerous services in Britain so that they can squeeze every last penny out of their passengers regardless of the consequences. That is a lethal gamble with safety in the name of profit and that is why we have been forced to take strike action today.”
Two further 24-hour strikes are planned next month on Southern, which runs services across the south of England, including commuter routes into London Victoria.Two further 24-hour strikes are planned next month on Southern, which runs services across the south of England, including commuter routes into London Victoria.
Southern, owned by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), plans changes to the role of conductors that will result in responsibility for operating the doors being switched to the driver.Southern, owned by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), plans changes to the role of conductors that will result in responsibility for operating the doors being switched to the driver.
The transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: “I condemn any industrial action that will disrupt the travelling public. I expect to see operators and the unions working together to resolve these issues.The transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: “I condemn any industrial action that will disrupt the travelling public. I expect to see operators and the unions working together to resolve these issues.
“Rail passengers will not thank the unions for inflicting this unnecessary disruption. It is clear that the changes GTR are proposing will modernise services and provide better journeys for passengers.”“Rail passengers will not thank the unions for inflicting this unnecessary disruption. It is clear that the changes GTR are proposing will modernise services and provide better journeys for passengers.”
A spokesman for Govia Thameslink Railway said: “This strike is completely unnecessary and just causes misery for our passengers. No staff would lose their jobs under our proposals or see a reduction in their salary, whilst passengers would benefit by having more visible staff on trains. We urge the RMT to come back to the negotiating table.
“The main focus of the new role is to be more visible and available to passengers, and as many trains will be staffed as today. In addition, services won’t be cancelled if an on-board supervisor is not available. That in itself, particularly in times of disruption, is a massive bonus for our passengers.
“All evidence shows that trains solely operated by drivers are at least as safe as those where the conductor operates the doors, if not more so. Over 40% of Southern services are operated safely without conductors and this has been the case for 25 years.
“While we are working to run as many trains as possible, on some routes there will be no train service at all and on others it will be significantly reduced and start late and finish early.”
Southern said the union’s statements about the strike were “deliberately misleading”.
“We reject the scaremongering of the RMT on safety grounds. Driver-only operation is a safe, proven way of working that has been working on 40% of trains across the Southern network for 25 years.
“The Office of Rail Regulation, the rail regulator for Great Britain, endorses the safe use of driver-only operation. The UK’s railways are now the safest in Europe and safer than any time in its history,” said a statement.