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Rail services disrupted by strike Rail services disrupted by strike
(about 1 hour later)
Rail services between London and Birmingham have been disrupted by a conductors' strike. Hundreds of rail passengers have been hit by a conductors' strike on services between London and Northampton.
London Midland trains have been affected by a second 24-hour walkout since Friday, in a row over Sunday working conditions. London Midland has had to cancel about 40 trains because of the second 24-hour walkout in four days, in a row over Sunday working conditions.
The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said there was solid support for its strike action.The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said there was solid support for its strike action.
It said managers drafted in to replace striking staff lead to "safety lapses". London Midland has denied this. It said replacing strikers with managers led to "safety lapses". London Midland has denied this.
London Midland said services between London Euston, Tring, Milton Keynes and Northampton, and the lines between
'Excellent job''Excellent job'
London Midland said train services between London Euston, Tring, Milton Keynes and Northampton, and the lines between Bletchley and Bedford, and between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey, would be affected by the strike. Bletchley and Bedford, and between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey, would be affected by the strike.
Around 40 of the 200 scheduled services between London and Northampton will not be running over the course of the day, London Midland said. Services to and from Birmingham were not affected.
Friday's industrial action involved about 100 staff.Friday's industrial action involved about 100 staff.
The firm's managing director Steve Banaghan said using management staff in conductor roles during the industrial action had been approved by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Railways.The firm's managing director Steve Banaghan said using management staff in conductor roles during the industrial action had been approved by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Railways.
"Many of our managers can draw on years of experience in conductor roles and they're doing an excellent job providing services to passengers during this period of industrial action.""Many of our managers can draw on years of experience in conductor roles and they're doing an excellent job providing services to passengers during this period of industrial action."
Meanwhile, the RMT said it was going to ballot almost 100 revenue protection officers working on Southern Railway because of lone working.Meanwhile, the RMT said it was going to ballot almost 100 revenue protection officers working on Southern Railway because of lone working.
The ballot, for action short of a strike, will open on 24 March and close on 7 April.The ballot, for action short of a strike, will open on 24 March and close on 7 April.
[Southern Railway] are also imposing rosters that make it more difficult to balance work with family life RMT general secretary Bob Crow The union says having revenue officers working alone rather than in pairs raised the risk of them being assaulted.
The union says having revenue officers working alone rather than in pairs raises the risk of them being assaulted. In addition, voting in strike ballots across a number of train companies in a protest over job losses and changes to working conditions is due to close on Tuesday.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Southern should be ashamed that, in a blatant attempt to maximise profits, it is prepared to expose staff handling money to greater risk of assault and cut their pay at the same time.
"If that wasn't bad enough, they are also imposing rosters that make it more difficult to balance work with family life and make it more difficult to take time off."
Voting in strike ballots across a number of train companies in a protest over job losses and and changes to working conditions is due to close on Tuesday.
The train companies affected are South West Trains, National Express East Anglia, First Capital Connect (Thameslink) and London Overground.The train companies affected are South West Trains, National Express East Anglia, First Capital Connect (Thameslink) and London Overground.