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Southern rail services cut from timetable as dispute continues Southern rail services cut from timetable as dispute continues
(about 9 hours later)
Hundreds of Southern rail services have been temporarily axed under an amended timetable brought in from midnight in response to months of disruption.Hundreds of Southern rail services have been temporarily axed under an amended timetable brought in from midnight in response to months of disruption.
Parent firm Govia Thameslink (GTR) said the "more reliable" timetable, with 341 fewer daily services, would operate on week days "for the forseeable future". Parent firm Govia Thameslink (GTR) said the "more reliable" timetable, with 341 fewer daily services, would operate on week days "for the foreseeable future".
Dyan Crowther, chief operating officer, said it would offer "more certainty".Dyan Crowther, chief operating officer, said it would offer "more certainty".
Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said it was "a crisis measure designed to rig appalling performance figures".Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said it was "a crisis measure designed to rig appalling performance figures".
"The fewer trains you run, the fewer will be delayed and the better your headline performance statistics will look," he said."The fewer trains you run, the fewer will be delayed and the better your headline performance statistics will look," he said.
"The new timetable also means that the vast reduction in services, approved by the government, will leave remaining trains dangerously overcrowded and it will be our members at the sharp end left to manage the safety of the passengers." "The new timetable also means the vast reduction in services, approved by the government, will leave remaining trains dangerously overcrowded and it will be our members at the sharp end left to manage the safety of the passengers."
'Unnecessary dispute' South West Trains is warning its services in Clapham Junction and the Portsmouth and Southampton areas are likely to be busier as passengers seek alternative routes.
Industrial action by RMT members and high levels of staff sickness have contributed to disruption of Southern services from the south coast into London.Industrial action by RMT members and high levels of staff sickness have contributed to disruption of Southern services from the south coast into London.
The dispute is over the role of conductors and driver-only trains, which unions argue will threaten jobs and passenger safety.The dispute is over the role of conductors and driver-only trains, which unions argue will threaten jobs and passenger safety.
GTR said it would still be running "95% of peak capacity to/from London Victoria and 86% of morning and 84% of evening capacity to/from London Bridge".GTR said it would still be running "95% of peak capacity to/from London Victoria and 86% of morning and 84% of evening capacity to/from London Bridge".
Ms Crowther said where a service had been removed from the revised timetable, an alternative was being offered, which could either be a bus or another operator. Ms Crowther said where a service had been removed from the revised timetable an alternative was being offered, which could either be a bus or another operator.
"We need to bring this unnecessary dispute to an end," she said."We need to bring this unnecessary dispute to an end," she said.
GTR plans to implement the changes in dispute from the end of August.GTR plans to implement the changes in dispute from the end of August.
"In the meantime what we want to do is enter into some meaningful discussions with the RMT about how we bring this dispute to an end, how we get our people back to work, and how we can collectively start giving a much, much better service for customers on the Southern network," Ms Crowther said. "In the meantime, what we want to do is enter into some meaningful discussions with the RMT about how we bring this dispute to an end, how we get our people back to work and how we can collectively start giving a much, much better service for customers on the Southern network," Ms Crowther said.
The union has offered to suspend industrial action for three months if the company pulls back from implementing the changes.The union has offered to suspend industrial action for three months if the company pulls back from implementing the changes.
Several protests by passengers angry at the disruption on the network and the "travel misery" it has caused have been held, with more planned for this week.Several protests by passengers angry at the disruption on the network and the "travel misery" it has caused have been held, with more planned for this week.
Alex Prosser-Snelling, one of the organisers of a demonstration at London's Victoria Station later, said: "We aren't people who protest normally, but everyone's fed up of the service."Alex Prosser-Snelling, one of the organisers of a demonstration at London's Victoria Station later, said: "We aren't people who protest normally, but everyone's fed up of the service."
More than 12,000 people have also signed a petition for the franchise to be removed from Southern.More than 12,000 people have also signed a petition for the franchise to be removed from Southern.
It is the main rail operator for Sussex and east Surrey, and also serves parts of Hampshire, Kent, London and Buckinghamshire. It is the main rail operator for Sussex and east Surrey and also serves parts of Hampshire, Kent, London and Buckinghamshire.