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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/dec/09/sadiq-khan-government-abandoning-southern-rail-passengers-aslef-drivers-overtime-ban
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| Sadiq Khan: government 'abandoning passengers' on Southern rail Sadiq Khan: government 'abandoning passengers' on Southern rail | |
| (10 days later) | |
| The London mayor has accused the government of “abandoning passengers” on Southern rail, on a morning when hundreds of thousands of commuters suffered fresh chaos as the impact of a train drivers’ overtime ban hit home. | The London mayor has accused the government of “abandoning passengers” on Southern rail, on a morning when hundreds of thousands of commuters suffered fresh chaos as the impact of a train drivers’ overtime ban hit home. |
| Sadiq Khan called on the rail unions to cancel strikes planned for next week but strongly criticised the government for “washing their hands of the crisis”. | Sadiq Khan called on the rail unions to cancel strikes planned for next week but strongly criticised the government for “washing their hands of the crisis”. |
| He said: “The ongoing chaos on Southern rail services is a total disgrace that is badly failing commuters who just want to get to work and back. The unions should cancel the strikes and get back around the negotiating table, but the government are washing their hands of this crisis and abandoning commuters in the process.” | He said: “The ongoing chaos on Southern rail services is a total disgrace that is badly failing commuters who just want to get to work and back. The unions should cancel the strikes and get back around the negotiating table, but the government are washing their hands of this crisis and abandoning commuters in the process.” |
| Despite three days of strikes called by conductors in the RMT union coming to an end on Thursday night, the effect of the Aslef union’s overtime ban brought widespread disruption on Friday. | Despite three days of strikes called by conductors in the RMT union coming to an end on Thursday night, the effect of the Aslef union’s overtime ban brought widespread disruption on Friday. |
| Southern said there were delays and cancellations across all of its routes, including the main Brighton line into Victoria. Gatwick Express services between Brighton and the airport did not run, and many metropolitan trains were cancelled. Some branch lines on the coast have been closed indefinitely. | Southern said there were delays and cancellations across all of its routes, including the main Brighton line into Victoria. Gatwick Express services between Brighton and the airport did not run, and many metropolitan trains were cancelled. Some branch lines on the coast have been closed indefinitely. |
| Commuters reported arguments and chaos at major hubs such as East Croydon, where commuters were unable to board some of the remaining Southern services due to overcrowding. | Commuters reported arguments and chaos at major hubs such as East Croydon, where commuters were unable to board some of the remaining Southern services due to overcrowding. |
| Southern’s operating company, Govia Thameslink Railway, on Thursday failed to secure an injunction to stop Aslef’s industrial action going ahead. A high court judge rejected its claims that the action infringed rights enshrined in European law. | Southern’s operating company, Govia Thameslink Railway, on Thursday failed to secure an injunction to stop Aslef’s industrial action going ahead. A high court judge rejected its claims that the action infringed rights enshrined in European law. |
| A full strike by drivers on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week is expected to stop all Southern trains from running, while the knock-on effects of the action will also curtail services on Monday and Thursday. Another full week of strikes looms in January. | A full strike by drivers on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week is expected to stop all Southern trains from running, while the knock-on effects of the action will also curtail services on Monday and Thursday. Another full week of strikes looms in January. |
| Khan contrasted the ongoing strikes on Southern – in its long-running dispute over changes to the roles of conductors and drivers – with his success in averting two strikes planned on the London Underground this week. | Khan contrasted the ongoing strikes on Southern – in its long-running dispute over changes to the roles of conductors and drivers – with his success in averting two strikes planned on the London Underground this week. |
| But his policy of engaging with the unions has been rejected by the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, who this week overturned plans to allow Transport for London (TfL) to take over the running of commuter trains into the capital. It was later revealed that Grayling had opposed the plans, approved by his Conservative predecessor, Patrick McLoughlin, because he did not want a Labour mayor to be running the parts of the network currently franchised to the likes of Southern. | But his policy of engaging with the unions has been rejected by the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, who this week overturned plans to allow Transport for London (TfL) to take over the running of commuter trains into the capital. It was later revealed that Grayling had opposed the plans, approved by his Conservative predecessor, Patrick McLoughlin, because he did not want a Labour mayor to be running the parts of the network currently franchised to the likes of Southern. |
| Khan pointed out that the number of days lost to strikes on the TfL underground network had fallen by 92% since his election. He said that situation on Southern showed once again why commuter rail lines, including Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains, should be devolved to TfL. | Khan pointed out that the number of days lost to strikes on the TfL underground network had fallen by 92% since his election. He said that situation on Southern showed once again why commuter rail lines, including Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains, should be devolved to TfL. |
| He said: “The chaos on the government-run Southern services this week is in stark contrast to TfL – who successfully persuaded the unions to call off their planned strike on the underground through engagement and negotiation. | He said: “The chaos on the government-run Southern services this week is in stark contrast to TfL – who successfully persuaded the unions to call off their planned strike on the underground through engagement and negotiation. |
| “It is absolutely clear that commuters would suffer from fewer strikes if TfL controlled these routes, and fares would be more affordable – with our four-year freeze on all TfL fares.” | “It is absolutely clear that commuters would suffer from fewer strikes if TfL controlled these routes, and fares would be more affordable – with our four-year freeze on all TfL fares.” |
| Khan has urged London commuters to lobby Grayling to reverse his decision to stop TfL taking over the inner parts of the franchises. A Conservative MP on the Southeastern commuter route, Bob Neill, called for Grayling’s resignation in the wake of the move, saying the transport secretary had “done a great deal of harm to London commuters who would have benefited significantly”. | Khan has urged London commuters to lobby Grayling to reverse his decision to stop TfL taking over the inner parts of the franchises. A Conservative MP on the Southeastern commuter route, Bob Neill, called for Grayling’s resignation in the wake of the move, saying the transport secretary had “done a great deal of harm to London commuters who would have benefited significantly”. |