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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scotrail and Southern strikes prompt disruption warning | Scotrail and Southern strikes prompt disruption warning |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Railway passengers have been warned to expect delays, disruption and cancellations as separate 24-hour strikes begin on Southern and ScotRail. | Railway passengers have been warned to expect delays, disruption and cancellations as separate 24-hour strikes begin on Southern and ScotRail. |
| The RMT called for the action in protest at more driver-only trains and a change in the role of conductors. | The RMT called for the action in protest at more driver-only trains and a change in the role of conductors. |
| Hundreds of services across Scotland and south-east England were due to be cancelled. | Hundreds of services across Scotland and south-east England were due to be cancelled. |
| ScotRail said other trains would be busier than normal while Southern issued a revised limited timetable. | ScotRail said other trains would be busier than normal while Southern issued a revised limited timetable. |
| Both companies said the action was needless. | Both companies said the action was needless. |
| But RMT members believe the rail operators intend to remove guards from trains completely, a move it claims would be "catastrophic for safety". | But RMT members believe the rail operators intend to remove guards from trains completely, a move it claims would be "catastrophic for safety". |
| The strikes follow earlier stoppages on Southern and the breakdown of talks at conciliation service Acas between ScotRail and the RMT union. | The strikes follow earlier stoppages on Southern and the breakdown of talks at conciliation service Acas between ScotRail and the RMT union. |
| Lines closed | Lines closed |
| Both companies issued maps indicating which services would be cancelled. | Both companies issued maps indicating which services would be cancelled. |
| Southern plans no trains between: | Southern plans no trains between: |
| Scotrail cancelled trains on 15 routes and warned replacement buses were "most unlikely" between: | Scotrail cancelled trains on 15 routes and warned replacement buses were "most unlikely" between: |
| 'Put passengers first' | 'Put passengers first' |
| Southern operator Govia Thameslink (GTR) said the strikes were "completely unnecessary" and called on RMT members to "think again and put passengers first". | Southern operator Govia Thameslink (GTR) said the strikes were "completely unnecessary" and called on RMT members to "think again and put passengers first". |
| "We apologise to our passengers for the disruption this will inevitably cause. | "We apologise to our passengers for the disruption this will inevitably cause. |
| "A restricted service will once again be in operation, with many routes having a reduced service, and on some routes there will be no train service at all." | "A restricted service will once again be in operation, with many routes having a reduced service, and on some routes there will be no train service at all." |
| GTR warned some last connecting trains would leave London "as early as 16:30". | GTR warned some last connecting trains would leave London "as early as 16:30". |
| Analysis by Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent | Analysis by Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent |
| Two hugely disruptive strikes, two different train companies, same issue. | |
| The unions want to draw a line in the sand over something called Driver-only-operation (DOO), where the driver is asked to close the doors at stations, instead of the on-board conductor. | The unions want to draw a line in the sand over something called Driver-only-operation (DOO), where the driver is asked to close the doors at stations, instead of the on-board conductor. |
| Drivers have CCTV in the cabs to check people are clear of the doors, but the unions say it is still not safe and passengers will get hurt. | Drivers have CCTV in the cabs to check people are clear of the doors, but the unions say it is still not safe and passengers will get hurt. |
| They are also worried it is a Trojan horse policy to phase out train conductors in future, to save money and cut staff. The companies say they will keep the conductors on board, they will just be helping passengers instead. | They are also worried it is a Trojan horse policy to phase out train conductors in future, to save money and cut staff. The companies say they will keep the conductors on board, they will just be helping passengers instead. |
| We have had DOO trains on Britain's railways for decades. The regulator (ORR) says it is happy they are safe and so does the Rail Safety and Standards Board but the unions do not want any more. | We have had DOO trains on Britain's railways for decades. The regulator (ORR) says it is happy they are safe and so does the Rail Safety and Standards Board but the unions do not want any more. |
| It is Scotrail and Southern this time around but this issue could flare up on any number of different lines in future. | It is Scotrail and Southern this time around but this issue could flare up on any number of different lines in future. |
| People are talking about a "war" on the trains, between the unions on one side, the companies and the government on the other. | People are talking about a "war" on the trains, between the unions on one side, the companies and the government on the other. |
| Neither side wants to budge, and passengers are stuck in the middle. | Neither side wants to budge, and passengers are stuck in the middle. |
| The RMT union said Southern's performance figures were at an "all time low". | The RMT union said Southern's performance figures were at an "all time low". |
| General secretary Mick Cash said: "Govia has chosen to declare war on its passengers and staff alike." | General secretary Mick Cash said: "Govia has chosen to declare war on its passengers and staff alike." |
| "We are sick and tired of them trying to lump the blame for their mismanagement and profiteering on the front line staff while top managers are giving themselves multimillion-pound pay and bonus packages for destroying services, wrecking safety and axing jobs." | "We are sick and tired of them trying to lump the blame for their mismanagement and profiteering on the front line staff while top managers are giving themselves multimillion-pound pay and bonus packages for destroying services, wrecking safety and axing jobs." |
| ScotRail managing director Phil Vertser said the RMT had "refused point blank to talk to us about how we modernise and improve Scotland's railway". | ScotRail managing director Phil Vertser said the RMT had "refused point blank to talk to us about how we modernise and improve Scotland's railway". |
| He added: "Instead they have hidden behind a national policy that says that nothing must ever change. | He added: "Instead they have hidden behind a national policy that says that nothing must ever change. |
| "Tens of thousands of our customers will be disrupted and hundreds of our own people will be hit financially as a result of their intransigence." | "Tens of thousands of our customers will be disrupted and hundreds of our own people will be hit financially as a result of their intransigence." |