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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Southern rail strike to bring 'major delays' | Southern rail strike to bring 'major delays' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Commuters are facing major delays yet again as the latest three-day strike on the Southern rail network is under way. | |
| The RMT union walked out at midnight in the continuing dispute over the role of conductors. The drivers' union, Aslef, is also beginning an overtime ban. | |
| Southern warned customers of "severe and significant" disruption as a result of the action by both unions. | Southern warned customers of "severe and significant" disruption as a result of the action by both unions. |
| The dispute has been likened to the "railway's equivalent of the 1984 miners' strike". | |
| Live strike updates | |
| Southern refund: What you need to know | |
| Your questions answered | |
| Peter Izard tweeted: "Thanks to #southernstrike having to drive to work today then stay in hotel Wed Thursday high costs and family impact huge @delayrepayagent" | |
| A 24-hour strike was also due to take place on two London Underground lines from Tuesday evening, but it has been suspended. | A 24-hour strike was also due to take place on two London Underground lines from Tuesday evening, but it has been suspended. |
| Southern's parent company Govia Thameslink Railway is taking legal action to try to stop the Aslef stoppages. | Southern's parent company Govia Thameslink Railway is taking legal action to try to stop the Aslef stoppages. |
| This is the longest-running rail strike since the railways were privatised in 1996 with the RMT's members having first walked out in April. | This is the longest-running rail strike since the railways were privatised in 1996 with the RMT's members having first walked out in April. |
| Southern commuters' tales of 'hell' | Southern commuters' tales of 'hell' |
| The continuing dispute is increasingly viewed as the railway's version of the 1984 miners' strike, said Paul Clifton, BBC South's transport correspondent. | The continuing dispute is increasingly viewed as the railway's version of the 1984 miners' strike, said Paul Clifton, BBC South's transport correspondent. |
| "It is a battle for the future of the unions on the railways," he said. | "It is a battle for the future of the unions on the railways," he said. |
| "The government is committed to changing working practices and is prepared to see it out." | "The government is committed to changing working practices and is prepared to see it out." |
| On RMT strike days about 50% of the full timetable will operate but if the Aslef strikes go ahead, no Southern services will run. | On RMT strike days about 50% of the full timetable will operate but if the Aslef strikes go ahead, no Southern services will run. |
| Analysis: Paul Clifton, BBC South transport correspondent | |
| RMT conductors began their strikes last April. Since the railway was privatised in the 1990s, no other industrial action has come close in either duration or intensity. | |
| It's getting worse. Aslef drivers are joining in with an overtime ban from today. Conductors can disrupt a service, but drivers can stop almost every train from moving. | |
| Comparisons with the miners' strike now start to stack up. Conductors are protesting about a new grade called on-board supervisor, even though 99% of them have now accepted the new roles. It's as if the original motive for a local strike has been pushed aside in a bigger fight against the government. | |
| Everyone realises Southern is simply doing as it is told by the Department for Transport. Neither side can back down with honour intact. | |
| Insiders tell me ministers will tough it out, overseeing long-overdue modernisation of working practices - as they see it. The unions believe safety will suffer. | |
| If they lose, their grip on the railway will be weakened. Stuck in the middle, passengers are powerless to intervene. | |
| One thing is clear: this battle still has a long way to run. | |
| Southern rail strike dates: | Southern rail strike dates: |
| 00:01 Tuesday 6 December to 23:59 Thursday 8 December (RMT) | 00:01 Tuesday 6 December to 23:59 Thursday 8 December (RMT) |
| 00:01: Tuesday 13 December to 23:59 Wednesday 14 December (Aslef) | 00:01: Tuesday 13 December to 23:59 Wednesday 14 December (Aslef) |
| 00:01 Friday 16 December to 23:59: Friday 16 December (Aslef) | 00:01 Friday 16 December to 23:59: Friday 16 December (Aslef) |
| 00:01 Monday 19 December to 23:59 Tuesday 20 December (RMT) | 00:01 Monday 19 December to 23:59 Tuesday 20 December (RMT) |
| 00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January (RMT) | 00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January (RMT) |
| 00:01 Monday 9 January to 23:59: Saturday 14 January (Aslef) | 00:01 Monday 9 January to 23:59: Saturday 14 January (Aslef) |