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| Southern Rail: Developers create train cancellation game | Southern Rail: Developers create train cancellation game |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Web developers frustrated by months of delays on Southern Rail have used their experience as inspiration for an online game which lampoons the company. | Web developers frustrated by months of delays on Southern Rail have used their experience as inspiration for an online game which lampoons the company. |
| RamJam uploaded Southern Rail Tycoon on Thursday, and so far 45,000 people have played the tongue-in-cheek game. | |
| The aim is to stop guards from boarding trains, which leads to services being cancelled as profits are collected from passengers. | The aim is to stop guards from boarding trains, which leads to services being cancelled as profits are collected from passengers. |
| It was inspired by months of cancellations due to an RMT dispute. | It was inspired by months of cancellations due to an RMT dispute. |
| 'Stopped using trains' | 'Stopped using trains' |
| Once a sufficient number of train guards board on a train and a delayed service eventually departs, the player loses the game. | Once a sufficient number of train guards board on a train and a delayed service eventually departs, the player loses the game. |
| Brighton-based developer Tom Jackson said: "We all were planning to go to London a month ago and trains were delayed, then delayed, then delayed and then eventually cancelled. | |
| "We were so frustrated by the whole thing that we've stopped using the trains." | "We were so frustrated by the whole thing that we've stopped using the trains." |
| Mr Jackson, along with his colleagues Phil Hart and Toby Funnell, developed the game as a result of that experience. | Mr Jackson, along with his colleagues Phil Hart and Toby Funnell, developed the game as a result of that experience. |
| The 39-year-old said that the purpose of the game was a mixture of providing commuters with something fun to do while waiting for delayed trains and also making people aware of the compensation policy. | The 39-year-old said that the purpose of the game was a mixture of providing commuters with something fun to do while waiting for delayed trains and also making people aware of the compensation policy. |
| When the game is over, links appear to the Southern Rail compensation page and twitter account. | When the game is over, links appear to the Southern Rail compensation page and twitter account. |
| He added: "We like to do pieces that are reactive and demonstrate the impact [news events] have on people. | |
| "It's incredibly frustrating, the train service is an absolute shambles." | |
| Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Southern's parent company, has not yet commented on the game. | |
| 341 trains cancelled a day | 341 trains cancelled a day |
| The RMT union and GTR are in a dispute regarding the proposed introduction of more driver-only operated (DOO) services, which would change conductors' roles. | |
| As a result of regular walkouts, Southern cancelled 341 daily train services on 11 July to improve "reliability". Since then 15 have been reinstated. | As a result of regular walkouts, Southern cancelled 341 daily train services on 11 July to improve "reliability". Since then 15 have been reinstated. |
| Former rail minister Claire Perry resigned on Friday as a result of the months of delays on the line, managed by Govia Thameslink Railway. | Former rail minister Claire Perry resigned on Friday as a result of the months of delays on the line, managed by Govia Thameslink Railway. |
| On Monday, new Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said resolving the strike action was "top of his priority list". | On Monday, new Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said resolving the strike action was "top of his priority list". |