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Southern and RMT to hold talks to end conductors' strike | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Talks to prevent a further strike by Southern rail conductors are to be held on Friday. | |
A 24-hour walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, in protest at the introduction of driver-only trains, is due to end at 11:00 BST on Wednesday. | |
Southern warned passengers to expect "difficult and frustrating" journeys throughout the day. | |
Two further strikes have been announced for 10 May and 12 May. | |
Latest updates here | Latest updates here |
The RMT confirmed it would attend talks with Southern "over the guards jobs and safety dispute" on Friday. | |
Dyan Crowther, chief operating officer for Southern owner Govia Thameslink Railway, told BBC Sussex: "We are very pleased to hear that and we look forward to meeting the RMT". | |
Southern said some routes were again suspended or reduced with 700 fewer services but most trains on the Brighton mainline would run as normal. | |
Southern rail strike: Affected routes | Southern rail strike: Affected routes |
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "This dispute is about safety. 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." | RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "This dispute is about safety. 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." |
The company said its planned changes would make conductors more visible while drivers would operate doors. | |
It accused the RMT of "scaremongering" and said "driver-only operation is a safe, proven way of working" which had been used "on 40% of trains across the Southern network for 25 years. |