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ScotRail and Southern train strikes prompt disruption warning ScotRail and Southern train strikes prompt disruption warning
(35 minutes later)
Railway passengers have been warned to expect delays, disruption and cancellations during two separate 24-hour strikes on Southern and ScotRail.Railway passengers have been warned to expect delays, disruption and cancellations during two separate 24-hour strikes 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. RMT members voted 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 are due to be cancelled.Hundreds of services across Scotland and south-east England are 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.
BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott said strike days, ironically, were not necessarily that bad because many people chose not to travel.
He said about 60% of Southern services were running. ScotRail said it expected to be able to carry in the region of 70% of the normal number of passengers.
Southern services have been hit by staff shortages - blamed on high levels of sickness - in recent weeks, leading to protests by travellers in Brighton.
Follow live updates on Southern industrial action
ScotRail strike action begins
Both companies claimed the action was needless.Both companies claimed 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.
Paul Clifton, BBC South's transport correspondent, said Govia Thameslink carried 620,000 passengers a day, and added: "This dispute is messing up countless lives now, not just on strike days. Yesterday, again, dozens of services were cancelled because there weren't enough staff to run all the trains." BBC South's transport correspondent Paul Clifton said Govia Thameslink - which operates Southern - carried 620,000 passengers a day, adding: "This dispute is messing up countless lives now, not just on strike days. Yesterday, again, dozens of services were cancelled because there weren't enough staff to run all the trains."
He said the dispute had become "a vitriolic slanging match" and both sides had been to conciliation service Acas but found no common ground.He said the dispute had become "a vitriolic slanging match" and both sides had been to conciliation service Acas but found no common ground.
The rail operator had decided to impose the changes from August whether the guards liked it or not, he said.The rail operator had decided to impose the changes from August whether the guards liked it or not, he said.
'Lost patience''Lost patience'
Commuters said all sides were at fault.Commuters said all sides were at fault.
Peter Simpson, of Worthing, said he blamed the company and the government, but he had also lost patience with the staff.Peter Simpson, of Worthing, said he blamed the company and the government, but he had also lost patience with the staff.
And Chris Snowden, from Shoreham, said Southern should lose its franchise but he believed it was the union's fault. And Chris Snowden, from Shoreham, said Southern should lose its franchise but he believed it [disruption] was the union's fault.
He said: "A lot of trains in Britain and around the world work without having conductors closing the doors."He said: "A lot of trains in Britain and around the world work without having conductors closing the doors."
Both Mr Simpson and Mr Snowden stayed at home on Tuesday.Both Mr Simpson and Mr Snowden stayed at home on Tuesday.
BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott said strike days, ironically, were not necessarily that bad because many people chose not to travel.
He said about 60% of Southern services are running.
ScotRail said it expected to be able to carry in the region of 70% of the normal number of passengers.
Lines closedLines 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:
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 correspondentAnalysis by Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent
Two hugely disruptive strikes, two different train companies, same issue.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 from the picket line: "Our members on Southern are rock solid in support in support of the action this morning in the right to stop the basket-case GTR franchise from ripping apart the safety culture on our railways in the drive for ever-fatter profits."
"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." He said the union was receiving "brilliant support from passengers on the picket lines and social media".
TUC deputy general secretary Paul Nowak said nobody wanted a strike but rail workers deserved support.
He said: "Trains need more than just a driver - they need other properly trained staff to ensure that passengers are safe."
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."
Are you affected by the strikes? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.Are you affected by the strikes? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.
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