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First three-day Southern Rail strike begins Southern Rail strike: Passengers plead for end to 'chaos'
(about 4 hours later)
The first of a series of strikes on Southern trains is under way despite the RMT union advising its members to sign the rail company's new contracts. Passengers are enduring overcrowding, delays and chaos on Southern trains as a strike by RMT union members continues.
Three days of industrial action began at midnight and is set to continue until Friday morning. The 72-hour walkout is due to go on until Friday, despite the RMT advising members to sign new contracts.
The RMT has held a series of walkouts since April in the dispute over the role of guards on Southern services, and said the strike was "rock solid". Passenger group Transport Focus said commuters were fed up and wanted services to get back to normal.
Southern said it would run about 61% of its normal timetable. The RMT said the strike was "rock solid", while Southern said it was running 61% of its normal timetable.
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"Passengers have lost the plot on this one as to what the original rights and wrongs of the dispute actually were," said Transport Focus spokesman Anthony Smith.
"It has become so bitter and protracted.
"The message from passengers to both sides is get back round the negotiating table and sort something out that will benefit passengers in the long term."
The RMT has held a series of walkouts since April in the dispute over the role of conductors on Southern services.
Analysis by BBC South East Political Editor Helen Catt
The RMT thinks having new on-board supervisors on the trains instead of conductors will lower safety standards.
Southern says they will be "safety trained", rather than "safety critical" and there is a grey area over the difference.
The two sides don't seem to be coming any closer together.
The row is getting increasingly bitter and it doesn't look as if there is any quick resolution to this.
Passengers have been venting their frustration on social media.Passengers have been venting their frustration on social media.
Martin Still tweeted: "I've forgotten what they are arguing about and bored with it all now - perhaps just sack everyone, managers and strikers and start again."Martin Still tweeted: "I've forgotten what they are arguing about and bored with it all now - perhaps just sack everyone, managers and strikers and start again."
Liam Mustapha posted: "Cant get to school today because of @SouthernRailUK strike today. I don't think I or other commuters can take this any longer. #southernfail."Liam Mustapha posted: "Cant get to school today because of @SouthernRailUK strike today. I don't think I or other commuters can take this any longer. #southernfail."
Earlier train services between Brighton and Gatwick Airport via Balcombe were disrupted because of over-running engineering work by Network Rail as a result of a broken down engineers' train.Earlier train services between Brighton and Gatwick Airport via Balcombe were disrupted because of over-running engineering work by Network Rail as a result of a broken down engineers' train.
Russell Woollen said: "@SouthernRailUK why risk doing engineering works before a day like this?? You can't make it up. Appalling."Russell Woollen said: "@SouthernRailUK why risk doing engineering works before a day like this?? You can't make it up. Appalling."
The rail company tweeted: "First class has been declassified for the day to help during the RMT strike and disruption at #Balcombe this morning." Southern, which runs trains linking parts of Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire with London, is introducing driver-only operation and wants conductors to accept new on-board supervisor positions.
The RMT revealed it had received a legal challenge just hours before the start of the walkout but said the strike would go ahead while it examined the details of the paperwork. The RMT revealed it had received a legal challenge to the strike hours before the start of the walkout, but said it would go ahead while it examined the details.
The union previously advised conductors to accept new contracts to "protect their position" - but said it would seek to overturn them.The union previously advised conductors to accept new contracts to "protect their position" - but said it would seek to overturn them.
Mick Cash, the RMT's general secretary, said: "Despite all of the threats and bullying from the company, RMT can confirm that the strike action is rock solid and determined again this morning across the Southern Rail network." General Secretary Mick Cash called for fresh talks with Southern CEO Charles Horton to break the deadlock over whether there would be a second member staff, as well as the driver, on every train.
Mick Lynch, the assistant secretary general of the RMT told the BBC: "We're sorry that people in London and the South East have got to put up with this. Mr Horton said Southern's position had not changed but if the RMT's had, the company would be pleased to hear from the union.
Mick Lynch, the assistant secretary general of the RMT, told the BBC: "We're sorry that people in London and the South East have got to put up with this.
"If the company gets round the table and we can hammer out a deal which we think is reasonable, then we can call off these strikes and get everyone back to work.""If the company gets round the table and we can hammer out a deal which we think is reasonable, then we can call off these strikes and get everyone back to work."
On Monday, the company had made a last-minute legal bid to stop the strikes.
Strike dates announced by the RMT:Strike dates announced by the RMT:
But, it warned, many routes would have fewer trains, while some routes would have no service at all.
Another 11 days of action planned is before Christmas.
Mayor of Seaford Lindsay Freeman said the south coast town's summer tourist trade had dropped and some commuters had given up jobs in London because of the strikes.Mayor of Seaford Lindsay Freeman said the south coast town's summer tourist trade had dropped and some commuters had given up jobs in London because of the strikes.
Ms Freeman said she was very concerned about the impact of a strike planned for 5 November, when up to 40,000 people travel to bonfire celebrations in the East Sussex town of Lewes.Ms Freeman said she was very concerned about the impact of a strike planned for 5 November, when up to 40,000 people travel to bonfire celebrations in the East Sussex town of Lewes.
Southern, which runs trains linking parts of Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire with London, is introducing driver-only operation and wants conductors to accept new on-board supervisor positions.