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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Southern Rail strike: Talks planned as action continues | Southern Rail strike: Talks planned as action continues |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The first face-to-face talks between the bosses of Southern trains and the RMT union are to take place later in a bid to avert further strike action. | The first face-to-face talks between the bosses of Southern trains and the RMT union are to take place later in a bid to avert further strike action. |
| The 72-hour walkout which began on Tuesday despite the RMT advising members to sign new contracts. | |
| A commuters' group has raised concerns over passengers' health and safety due to overcrowding during the strikes. | |
| The union has held a series of walkouts since April over the role of conductors on Southern services.5 | |
| Southern said it would continue to run a revised timetable on Wednesday. | Southern said it would continue to run a revised timetable on Wednesday. |
| Train chaos 'dangerous' | |
| The Association of British Commuters, which is seeking a judicial review over the Government's handling of the Southern franchise, has written to the Department for Transport raising concerns for passengers' safety. | |
| A spokesman said: "Passengers are having to cope with absolute chaos now. On any day, trains are overcrowded or cancelled and the situation is dangerous." | |
| A spokesman for Southern said they did not know where or when the talks would take place. | A spokesman for Southern said they did not know where or when the talks would take place. |
| In a letter to RMT general secretary Mick Cash, Southern CEO Charles Horton said: "I'm prepared to free my diary... to meet and to show your serious intent, I would like the RMT to call off the rest of the strike action planned for this week." | In a letter to RMT general secretary Mick Cash, Southern CEO Charles Horton said: "I'm prepared to free my diary... to meet and to show your serious intent, I would like the RMT to call off the rest of the strike action planned for this week." |
| Mr Cash said talks were a golden opportunity to break the deadlock and the union would be present at them. | Mr Cash said talks were a golden opportunity to break the deadlock and the union would be present at them. |
| Transport Focus spokesman Anthony Smith said passengers had "lost the plot as to what the original rights and wrongs of the dispute actually were". | Transport Focus spokesman Anthony Smith said passengers had "lost the plot as to what the original rights and wrongs of the dispute actually were". |
| "It has become so bitter and protracted," he said. | "It has become so bitter and protracted," he said. |
| Analysis: Jack Fiehn, political reporter BBC Surrey | Analysis: Jack Fiehn, political reporter BBC Surrey |
| The talks are the first time the two individuals at the top of both the union and Southern have negotiated directly with each other. | The talks are the first time the two individuals at the top of both the union and Southern have negotiated directly with each other. |
| The CEO of Govia Thameslink says he hopes they can shake hands on a deal. | The CEO of Govia Thameslink says he hopes they can shake hands on a deal. |
| Meanwhile the General Secretary of the RMT, Mick Cash, says this is a "golden opportunity" for a breakthrough. | Meanwhile the General Secretary of the RMT, Mick Cash, says this is a "golden opportunity" for a breakthrough. |
| So is this a glimmer of hope for long suffering commuters, caught in the middle of this bitter dispute? | So is this a glimmer of hope for long suffering commuters, caught in the middle of this bitter dispute? |
| Talks have been going on for months and so far nothing has been resolved. | Talks have been going on for months and so far nothing has been resolved. |
| The question is what exactly could these two men offer each other to break the deadlock. | The question is what exactly could these two men offer each other to break the deadlock. |
| Passengers have been complaining about trains having less carriages and over crowding. | Passengers have been complaining about trains having less carriages and over crowding. |
| SonicLady tweeted: "That's it @SouthernRailUK, shortform my train on strike day. Many passengers unable to board again. #SouthernStrike #southernfail." | SonicLady tweeted: "That's it @SouthernRailUK, shortform my train on strike day. Many passengers unable to board again. #SouthernStrike #southernfail." |
| Beefqueen posted: ".@SouthernRailUK Why is the 0838 from TBG to City Thameslink today shortformed? #SouthernStrike #southernfail." | Beefqueen posted: ".@SouthernRailUK Why is the 0838 from TBG to City Thameslink today shortformed? #SouthernStrike #southernfail." |
| Others have said services were running better than on the first day of the strike. | Others have said services were running better than on the first day of the strike. |
| Fed tweeted: "The train situation is still bad this morning, though slightly less so than yesterday. Good luck folks - keep your heads :) #SouthernStrike." | Fed tweeted: "The train situation is still bad this morning, though slightly less so than yesterday. Good luck folks - keep your heads :) #SouthernStrike." |
| Strike dates announced by the RMT: | Strike dates announced by the RMT: |