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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2016/dec/13/southern-rail-strike-after-court-rejects-appeal-live-updates
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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
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| Southern rail strike causes worst disruption in 20 years | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| 2.54pm GMT | 2.54pm GMT |
| 14:54 | 14:54 |
| Here’s a summary of what’s happened so far: | Here’s a summary of what’s happened so far: |
| We’re going to pause the blog for now but we’ll return to it if there are major developments. And there’ll be more soon on Southern section. | We’re going to pause the blog for now but we’ll return to it if there are major developments. And there’ll be more soon on Southern section. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.59pm GMT | at 2.59pm GMT |
| 2.18pm GMT | 2.18pm GMT |
| 14:18 | 14:18 |
| Gwyn Topham | Gwyn Topham |
| Southern is topping one performance table, writes Gwyn Topham. | Southern is topping one performance table, writes Gwyn Topham. |
| The website Sorry for the Inconvenience, tracks the number of apologies issued by train companies on social media to passengers. Southern has apologised over 38,000 times this year, well ahead of nearest rival Great Western Railway. Industrial action could threaten that though: with no services to apologise for during the strike, it has said sorry only 36 times by 2pm – a third of the usual daily total. | The website Sorry for the Inconvenience, tracks the number of apologies issued by train companies on social media to passengers. Southern has apologised over 38,000 times this year, well ahead of nearest rival Great Western Railway. Industrial action could threaten that though: with no services to apologise for during the strike, it has said sorry only 36 times by 2pm – a third of the usual daily total. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.34pm GMT | at 3.34pm GMT |
| 2.12pm GMT | 2.12pm GMT |
| 14:12 | 14:12 |
| A cartoon in the Times portrays the dispute as trench warfare between commuters and the rail unions. | A cartoon in the Times portrays the dispute as trench warfare between commuters and the rail unions. |
| The #Southernstrike has brought the worst commuter chaos for decadeshttps://t.co/prZFxvemOy pic.twitter.com/21KynHvCYc | The #Southernstrike has brought the worst commuter chaos for decadeshttps://t.co/prZFxvemOy pic.twitter.com/21KynHvCYc |
| 2.03pm GMT | 2.03pm GMT |
| 14:03 | 14:03 |
| When, where and why is the Southern rail strike taking place? Our transport correspondent, Gwyn Topham, has all the answers. | When, where and why is the Southern rail strike taking place? Our transport correspondent, Gwyn Topham, has all the answers. |
| 2.01pm GMT | 2.01pm GMT |
| 14:01 | 14:01 |
| Aslef accuses Grayling of ‘playing games’ | Aslef accuses Grayling of ‘playing games’ |
| Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, said the union was prepared to negotiate to end the dispute and accused Chris Grayling of “playing games” behind the scenes. | Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, said the union was prepared to negotiate to end the dispute and accused Chris Grayling of “playing games” behind the scenes. |
| “We offered to go to talks,” he told Sky News. Whelan added: “I would hope that we were getting round a table very very soon. We hope people listen to us, come talk to us and find a real way through this.” | “We offered to go to talks,” he told Sky News. Whelan added: “I would hope that we were getting round a table very very soon. We hope people listen to us, come talk to us and find a real way through this.” |
| Asked if he had confidence in the transport secretary, Whelan said: “He has quoted items today that I wasn’t even aware he was involved in. I had no idea that he was the guiding hand behind the scenes over the offer on Sunday that came from the company, in a private and confidential conversation, which miraculously appeared on the DfT website yesterday. So I do wonder who in all of this is playing games.” | Asked if he had confidence in the transport secretary, Whelan said: “He has quoted items today that I wasn’t even aware he was involved in. I had no idea that he was the guiding hand behind the scenes over the offer on Sunday that came from the company, in a private and confidential conversation, which miraculously appeared on the DfT website yesterday. So I do wonder who in all of this is playing games.” |
| Asked about Grayling’s claims that he had threatened the government with 10 years of industrial action, Whelan said: “Normally meetings between ministers and ourselves are [subject to] Chatham House rules. But I’m quite happy to give my version of events. I relayed our concerns over safety. He was quite intransigent about our concerns. I then quite openly said then we will have years of problems going ahead if that is going to be the case. I never threatened him. It was an open statement about the likelihood of where we would be industrially if that was the position that was maintained.” | Asked about Grayling’s claims that he had threatened the government with 10 years of industrial action, Whelan said: “Normally meetings between ministers and ourselves are [subject to] Chatham House rules. But I’m quite happy to give my version of events. I relayed our concerns over safety. He was quite intransigent about our concerns. I then quite openly said then we will have years of problems going ahead if that is going to be the case. I never threatened him. It was an open statement about the likelihood of where we would be industrially if that was the position that was maintained.” |
| Whelan added: “This isn’t about a victory over the government. This is about a long-held policy for over 15 years, where our members have become increasingly concerned about the ability to safely operate these trains. We are not doing it for gain. We are doing it for safety reasons. We want a safer railway.” | Whelan added: “This isn’t about a victory over the government. This is about a long-held policy for over 15 years, where our members have become increasingly concerned about the ability to safely operate these trains. We are not doing it for gain. We are doing it for safety reasons. We want a safer railway.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.57pm GMT | at 2.57pm GMT |
| 1.21pm GMT | 1.21pm GMT |
| 13:21 | 13:21 |
| Labour rejects strike ban | Labour rejects strike ban |
| The shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, has rejected Chris Grayling’s threat to restrict future strike action. | The shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, has rejected Chris Grayling’s threat to restrict future strike action. |
| He urged the transport secretary to find a negotiated solution. | He urged the transport secretary to find a negotiated solution. |
| Grayling can resolve #Southern dispute if he wishes. Rather than threaten strike bans, he should do his job & get on with negotiations | Grayling can resolve #Southern dispute if he wishes. Rather than threaten strike bans, he should do his job & get on with negotiations |
| But Tory MP Paul Scully, who represents many Southern commuters in his Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park constituency, blamed unions for refusing to negotiate without preconditions. | But Tory MP Paul Scully, who represents many Southern commuters in his Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park constituency, blamed unions for refusing to negotiate without preconditions. |
| In a statement on the strike he said: | In a statement on the strike he said: |
| Southern and the unions need to remember the commuters they represent rather than point-scoring. I am deeply disappointed that the unions are refusing to come to talks even without any preconditions. This is all about who presses a button to close the doors. Driver-only operated trains operate on over a third of the rail network already, all trains that go through Sutton are driver-only operated and Thameslink drivers are at work today, represented by the same union, and they are driving driver-only operated trains. This makes this strike look vindictive rather than about a credible safety concern. | Southern and the unions need to remember the commuters they represent rather than point-scoring. I am deeply disappointed that the unions are refusing to come to talks even without any preconditions. This is all about who presses a button to close the doors. Driver-only operated trains operate on over a third of the rail network already, all trains that go through Sutton are driver-only operated and Thameslink drivers are at work today, represented by the same union, and they are driving driver-only operated trains. This makes this strike look vindictive rather than about a credible safety concern. |
| I continue to call for these strikes to be called off. | I continue to call for these strikes to be called off. |
| People are losing or quitting their jobs because of how appalling the train service is – this cannot be allowed to continue. The strike and wider industrial action needs to end now so we can go back to tackling the underlying issues that have dogged this network for years. | People are losing or quitting their jobs because of how appalling the train service is – this cannot be allowed to continue. The strike and wider industrial action needs to end now so we can go back to tackling the underlying issues that have dogged this network for years. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.58pm GMT | at 2.58pm GMT |
| 1.04pm GMT | 1.04pm GMT |
| 13:04 | 13:04 |
| Sadiq Khan has more on his call for responsibility for London rail services to be handed to Transport for London. | Sadiq Khan has more on his call for responsibility for London rail services to be handed to Transport for London. |
| Setting out a business case for the move the mayor’s office said: | Setting out a business case for the move the mayor’s office said: |
| TfL has a proven track record of making rail services better. Devolving this responsibility to TfL would allow us to work towards a fully integrated transport service, structured fares and transparent management. | TfL has a proven track record of making rail services better. Devolving this responsibility to TfL would allow us to work towards a fully integrated transport service, structured fares and transparent management. |
| Londoners – regardless of age, income or background – rely on train services to be fast, frequent and affordable every day. Services on the rail network should meet the same high standards achieved by the rest of London’s transport network. Currently this is not the case across the suburban rail network. | Londoners – regardless of age, income or background – rely on train services to be fast, frequent and affordable every day. Services on the rail network should meet the same high standards achieved by the rest of London’s transport network. Currently this is not the case across the suburban rail network. |
| By taking advantage of TfL’s proven track record of making rail services better, there is an opportunity to provide a truly integrated, reliable and affordable rail network. | By taking advantage of TfL’s proven track record of making rail services better, there is an opportunity to provide a truly integrated, reliable and affordable rail network. |
| Rail devolution would also lead to economic benefits within communities. The biggest impact would be in south London, where house building rates are less than half the rest of London, because of poorer transport connections. | Rail devolution would also lead to economic benefits within communities. The biggest impact would be in south London, where house building rates are less than half the rest of London, because of poorer transport connections. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.52pm GMT | at 2.52pm GMT |
| 12.57pm GMT | 12.57pm GMT |
| 12:57 | 12:57 |
| A single mother who faces travelling more than six hours to get to and from work each day during the strike has set out her plight in a letter to her MP. PA reports: | A single mother who faces travelling more than six hours to get to and from work each day during the strike has set out her plight in a letter to her MP. PA reports: |
| Jenny Lehane was forced to get her six-year-old son Matthew out of bed at 5.30am on Tuesday - an hour and a half early - so she could drop him at a friend’s house and travel from Coulsdon, Croydon, to Camden in north London. | Jenny Lehane was forced to get her six-year-old son Matthew out of bed at 5.30am on Tuesday - an hour and a half early - so she could drop him at a friend’s house and travel from Coulsdon, Croydon, to Camden in north London. |
| The 37-year-old catering manager’s usual commute is 1hr 20min – taking a Southern service from Coulsdon South to London Bridge before catching the Jubilee line to West Hampstead. | The 37-year-old catering manager’s usual commute is 1hr 20min – taking a Southern service from Coulsdon South to London Bridge before catching the Jubilee line to West Hampstead. |
| But on Tuesday she says it took 3hr 30min. She had to get a bus before squashing on to an “absolutely packed” tram after not being able to squeeze on to two earlier ones, before taking the Jubilee line from Wimbledon to West Brompton. | But on Tuesday she says it took 3hr 30min. She had to get a bus before squashing on to an “absolutely packed” tram after not being able to squeeze on to two earlier ones, before taking the Jubilee line from Wimbledon to West Brompton. |
| In an emotional email to Chris Philp, MP for Croydon South, Lehane wrote: “I am writing this on a bus with tears streaming down my face at the utter failure of our MPs and government to do anything to stop this completely intolerable failure by Southern to run the service that my fares and taxes are paying for. | In an emotional email to Chris Philp, MP for Croydon South, Lehane wrote: “I am writing this on a bus with tears streaming down my face at the utter failure of our MPs and government to do anything to stop this completely intolerable failure by Southern to run the service that my fares and taxes are paying for. |
| “It depresses me that the government, voted for by us, the hardworking, tax-paying commuters, will do nothing to help us.” | “It depresses me that the government, voted for by us, the hardworking, tax-paying commuters, will do nothing to help us.” |
| Lehane told the Press Association: “When I saw the sign advising people not to travel I got so cross. People have to work, businesses have to run. We can’t all march to their tune. | Lehane told the Press Association: “When I saw the sign advising people not to travel I got so cross. People have to work, businesses have to run. We can’t all march to their tune. |
| “I have worked hard for the same company for 15 years. I should be able to get a train and live my life without this stress.” | “I have worked hard for the same company for 15 years. I should be able to get a train and live my life without this stress.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.51pm GMT | at 2.51pm GMT |
| 12.18pm GMT | 12.18pm GMT |
| 12:18 | 12:18 |
| Rachel Obordo | Rachel Obordo |
| People who gave up trying to get into the office have been telling us what it’s like to work from home, writes Rachel Obordo. | People who gave up trying to get into the office have been telling us what it’s like to work from home, writes Rachel Obordo. |
| Rebecca, 24, from East Grinsted, normally commutes daily on Southern rail. She said: | Rebecca, 24, from East Grinsted, normally commutes daily on Southern rail. She said: |
| I’ve had to stay at home today because I can’t face the stress and hassle, not to mention the additional cost and time loss, of finding an alternative route to my office in London. Not that a non-strike day is much better – yesterday my journey home took over three hours, with the majority of delays and cancellations attributed to ongoing industrial action. | I’ve had to stay at home today because I can’t face the stress and hassle, not to mention the additional cost and time loss, of finding an alternative route to my office in London. Not that a non-strike day is much better – yesterday my journey home took over three hours, with the majority of delays and cancellations attributed to ongoing industrial action. |
| Unfortunately my workload doesn’t disappear just because I can’t be in the office. This is far from ideal in the run-up to Christmas. The stress and anxiety this dispute is causing passengers is shameful. I feel for tourists visiting the UK who are met with this turmoil and are unprepared to make alternative arrangements, and for passengers with disabilities, or those more vulnerable, who have to put up with chaos and dangerous conditions on a daily basis. | Unfortunately my workload doesn’t disappear just because I can’t be in the office. This is far from ideal in the run-up to Christmas. The stress and anxiety this dispute is causing passengers is shameful. I feel for tourists visiting the UK who are met with this turmoil and are unprepared to make alternative arrangements, and for passengers with disabilities, or those more vulnerable, who have to put up with chaos and dangerous conditions on a daily basis. |
| Luckily for Lee, an understanding employer means working from home is not really an issue. | Luckily for Lee, an understanding employer means working from home is not really an issue. |
| Working from home.....again. | Working from home.....again. |
| Whilst its a pain in the backside not being in the office I can think of worse things to be doing than sat at home with endless tea and cake, plus I also get compensation from Southern every time they decide to strike so its not all bad. I'm just glad my employer is flexible enough to allow me to work from home which has become a regular occurrence. | Whilst its a pain in the backside not being in the office I can think of worse things to be doing than sat at home with endless tea and cake, plus I also get compensation from Southern every time they decide to strike so its not all bad. I'm just glad my employer is flexible enough to allow me to work from home which has become a regular occurrence. |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Lee Martindale | By Lee Martindale |
| 13 December 2016, 10:23 | 13 December 2016, 10:23 |
| But, for Fiona and her partner, working from home has been tricky. | But, for Fiona and her partner, working from home has been tricky. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.33pm GMT | at 12.33pm GMT |
| 12.14pm GMT | 12.14pm GMT |
| 12:14 | 12:14 |
| Damien Gayle | Damien Gayle |
| Under Southern plans drivers will be solely responsible for the safety of up to 1,500 people, according to Aslef’s Graham Morris. | Under Southern plans drivers will be solely responsible for the safety of up to 1,500 people, according to Aslef’s Graham Morris. |
| Speaking to Damien Gayle he said that level of responsibility as well as driving the train is “unacceptable”. | Speaking to Damien Gayle he said that level of responsibility as well as driving the train is “unacceptable”. |
| He added: “This is about them saving money.” | He added: “This is about them saving money.” |
| #southernstrike Graham Morris, @ASLEFunion district organiser, on why his members are striking pic.twitter.com/2G8y5hGlUX | #southernstrike Graham Morris, @ASLEFunion district organiser, on why his members are striking pic.twitter.com/2G8y5hGlUX |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.31pm GMT | at 12.31pm GMT |
| 12.08pm GMT | 12.08pm GMT |
| 12:08 | 12:08 |
| Southern has confirmed that none of its trains are operating today because of the strike. Passengers are advised not to travel, it says. | Southern has confirmed that none of its trains are operating today because of the strike. Passengers are advised not to travel, it says. |
| This map shows the lines hit: | This map shows the lines hit: |