Southern Rail strike: Commuters face fresh chaos as three-day walkout begins

Southern: The operator said it will not run any trains on strike days
Jeremy Selwyn
Mark Chandler10 January 2017

Southern commuters are facing another week of chaos on the railways after workers started a three-day walkout on Tuesday in their bitter row over driver-only trains.

The operator warned passengers to work from home if they could and travel only if it was essential, with Aslef workers striking on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

It was expected to run only minimal trains on strike days, with a limited peak-only service on the Caterham line alongside Thameslink trains. A few services were also able to travel from Brighton to Victoria at the last minute on Tuesday morning.

Services on other days will also be affected by a continuing ban on overtime.

Southern is providing limited bus and coach services to provide road links for essential travel from nine of its stations into nearby neighbouring train networks where they can connect into other train operators' services.

Space on the buses will be limited and anyone who does travel should expect to queue, plan for longer journeys and realise the service they join will be exceptionally busy, said Southern.

The company also advised people to work from home or remotely if they can, and to stagger journeys if they can't.

As well as the three days of strikes, Southern and Gatwick Express services will be severely disrupted every day until further notice due to the overtime ban.

The strikes follow a 24-hour walkout on the Tube which caused mayhem for Londoners on Monday.

Angie Doll, Southern's passenger service director, said: "Once again, we wish to remind our passengers not to attempt to travel unless it is absolutely necessary on this week's strike days.

"There will also be significant disruption and hardship on the days Aslef is not on strike because of their overtime ban, especially on Thursday when trains will be out of position because of the strikes on each day either side.

"We are deeply sorry for the unnecessary and unwarranted disruption this dispute is causing.

"The unions' response is utterly disproportionate, causing misery to 300,000 passengers a day across the South East and untold damage to the regional economy."

General secretary Mick Whelan said: "We are taking a longer term view of this trade dispute.

"The company has not been prepared to move - it is simply going through the motions, turning up at Acas and telling us that it intends to impose driver-only operation.

"We remain committed to a negotiated settlement, as was reached with ScotRail, but it is difficult to negotiate with people who are not prepared to be flexible."

Meanwhile, members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Arriva Rail North will start voting on Tuesday whether to strike over pay, with the result due later this month.

Aslef members will also strike on January 24, 25 and 27.

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