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Southern rail strike begins after court rejects appeal – live updates Southern rail strike begins after court rejects appeal – live updates
(35 minutes later)
12.14pm GMT
12:14
Damien Gayle
Under Southern plans drivers will be solely responsible for the safety of 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.”
He added: “This is about them saving money.”
#southernstrike Graham Morris, @ASLEFunion district organiser, on why his members are striking pic.twitter.com/2G8y5hGlUX
12.08pm GMT
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.
This map shows the lines hit:
11.59am GMT
11:59
Google Trends has a list of the top five Southern Rail related queries on its search engine.
"Which trains are affected by the #southernstrike?" Top UK questions on @SouthernRailUK in the last 24 hours #southernrail pic.twitter.com/bGXma6YzMh
11.55am GMT
11:55
Mark Colombini, Aslef executive committee member for south London and the South East, has been outlining the safety concerns behind the strike. Speaking to Damien Gayle he said:
“It’s important to understand that it would be quite a crass oversimplification of the dispute to boil it down to one issue.
It’s multifaceted but safety is certainly one of the key factors and that’s in terms of operational safety of the railway. At the moment we have trains that are dispatched by the guard or conductor and the guard is responsible for monitoring the safe dispatch of those trains.
“The guard will ensure it is safe to dispatch those trains and will tell the driver it’s safe to do so.
“What they are looking to do under driver only operation is to transfer those duties to the driver so the driver would have full responsibility for dispatching the train. How that would work is that there are bodyside cameras that view down the side of the train and the driver would have to view down a set of monitors to check all the doors.
“There are issues relating to that because, particularly with very long formations of coaches, effectively 24 sets of doors, for the driver to do that in a short period of time. The images produced by the bodyside cameras are really unreliable, particularly in poor lighting, whether that be at night or just dusk or when it’s overcast, particularly in the rain - even light drizzle has caused some of the images to be really poor. That’s quite clearly an unsafe method of operation.
“The other thing of course, in terms of safety, is that the guard performs other safety duties, for example at a time when a driver might become incapacitated, particularly looking at worst case scenarios like in a train crash.
“The reality of a train crash is that the driver is often the first casualty; who is in place to ensure that safety duties are being conducted?
“That’s the safety angle, but there is also a customer service issue. If you think about access for the disabled, there might be a Good Samaritan to help someone in a wheelchair on board, but not necessarily. What Southern have said is that they expect people with a disability to give them advance notice so there can be someone at the station. I think they have said 48 hours notice. That’s frankly discrimination. I would suggest that’s contrary to the Disability Discrimination Act.”
11.48am GMT
11:48
Here’s a summary of what’s happened so far:
11.29am GMT11.29am GMT
11:2911:29
Tory MP Nick Herbert, who represents many Southern commuters as MP for Arundel and South Downs, has backed measures to end strikes on the rail network.Tory MP Nick Herbert, who represents many Southern commuters as MP for Arundel and South Downs, has backed measures to end strikes on the rail network.
Speaking to BBC News he said: “We should look at what more can be done to prevent essential public services being disrupted in this way. It is deeply unfair on the travelling public and something really has got to be done about it.”Speaking to BBC News he said: “We should look at what more can be done to prevent essential public services being disrupted in this way. It is deeply unfair on the travelling public and something really has got to be done about it.”
When it was pointed out that banning strikes would flout human rights laws, Herbert said:When it was pointed out that banning strikes would flout human rights laws, Herbert said:
There are a range of things that could be looked at. For instance it might be possible to have some kind of no strike agreement in return for compensation, or some kind of arrangement for binding arbitration on pay claims. There are options and they should be looked at, because what he have here is a few hundred militant staff effectively bringing a key public service to a standstill on a completely unreasonable demand. There are a range of things that could be looked at. For instance it might be possible to have some kind of ‘no strike’ agreement in return for compensation, or some kind of arrangement for binding arbitration on pay claims. There are options and they should be looked at, because what he have here is a few hundred militant staff effectively bringing a key public service to a standstill on a completely unreasonable demand.
The former home office minister added: “Their claim is bogus, it is political campaign. That’s why the government does need to look at the options for dealing with it.” The former home office minister added: “Their claim is bogus, it is a political campaign. That’s why the government does need to look at the options for dealing with it.”
Updated
at 11.56am GMT
11.13am GMT11.13am GMT
11:1311:13
The Association of British Commuters has set out its demands ahead of Thursday’s protest outside the Department for Transport on Thursday. The Association of British Commuters has set out its demands ahead of Thursday’s protest outside the Department for Transport.
It has three main demands:It has three main demands:
If these can’t be met it is calling on Grayling to resign.If these can’t be met it is calling on Grayling to resign.
It says:It says:
“We demand that the Secretary of State for Transport not only intervenes, but does so openly and transparently. Our message to the government is this: we are not only commuters, we are citizens for whom his Department is responsible and we have urgent questions that need answering.” We demand that the secretary of state for transport not only intervenes but does so openly and transparently. Our message to the government is this: we are not only commuters, we are citizens for whom his department is responsible and we have urgent questions that need answering.
The British public should know that southern commuters have experienced a year-long nightmare with the collapse of Southern Rail. We have desperately called for government action and have been repeatedly ignored; even while many of us have lost our jobs, or relocated our homes because of it. Our thousands-strong network of commuters has been at the centre of this catastrophe throughout; and with the complete lack of government action on the matter, many have put all their efforts into investigating the true story behind the crisis. What is rotten in Southern Rail started long before the current industrial action; which now takes place on top of a broken infrastructure, chronic understaffing and a company whose relations with the public have irretrievably broken. The British public should know that southern commuters have experienced a year-long nightmare with the collapse of Southern rail. We have desperately called for government action and have been repeatedly ignored; even while many of us have lost our jobs, or relocated our homes because of it. Our thousands-strong network of commuters has been at the centre of this catastrophe throughout; and with the complete lack of government action on the matter, many have put all their efforts into investigating the true story behind the crisis. What is rotten in Southern rail started long before the current industrial action, which now takes place on top of a broken infrastructure, chronic understaffing and a company whose relations with the public have irretrievably broken [down].
Its relationship with the Department for Transport is that of a subcontractor, not a typical franchise; therefore, it is firmly within their remit to step in, and their urgent responsibility.Its relationship with the Department for Transport is that of a subcontractor, not a typical franchise; therefore, it is firmly within their remit to step in, and their urgent responsibility.
Updated
at 11.55am GMT
11.01am GMT11.01am GMT
11:0111:01
Rachel ObordoRachel Obordo
We’ve been hearing from commuters who have been forced to find alternative ways of getting into work, writes Rachel Obordo. Richard from Tattenham Corner had to spend extra time and money to get into central London. We’ve been hearing from commuters who have been forced to find alternative ways of getting into work, writes Rachel Obordo. Richard, from Tattenham Corner, had to spend extra time and money to get into central London.
Additional bus, tube and expenseAdditional bus, tube and expense
Usually board a train into London Bridge from my home station of Tattenham Corner. This morning I got a bus to Epsom main and then a (very busy) train to London Waterloo and tube to London Bridge. I have a monthly zones 1-6 travelcard but Epsom mainline station is outside of Zone 6 therefore I have to pay an additional fare. Daily journeys are normal painful enough.Usually board a train into London Bridge from my home station of Tattenham Corner. This morning I got a bus to Epsom main and then a (very busy) train to London Waterloo and tube to London Bridge. I have a monthly zones 1-6 travelcard but Epsom mainline station is outside of Zone 6 therefore I have to pay an additional fare. Daily journeys are normal painful enough.
Sent via Guardian WitnessSent via Guardian Witness
By Richard PainBy Richard Pain
13 December 2016, 10:2013 December 2016, 10:20
Another GuardianWitness contributor shares a picture of an overcrowded train.Another GuardianWitness contributor shares a picture of an overcrowded train.
Overcrowding on London transportOvercrowding on London transport
Over the past two weeks it is exceptional how many people have been packed onto the trains as well as the buses in London. On many occasions I have spent the morning on the way to work far too close to many of the other commuters who are desperate to get to work and not be late in order to keep their job. This brings me into the southern railway strike which is happening in London today. Many people are unhappy with their jobs however most of us still get up in the morning and make our way to work in order to make a living and ensure that we have food to put on the table for our families and ourselves. Multitudes of people are in desperate need of a job and I am sure that if the people on the trains are unhappy then they can leave their jobs and someone else will take their place. I am a strong believer that if you are unhappy you need to make a change, I do however believe that we should appreciate what we have and been thoughtful to others in the world as well who are also trying to make a living. London transport needs to run smoother, but it is with the help of everyone as a team which can make this happen. The drivers going against the people whose money goes into the system and pays their wages is not the way to go about it. As seen in the photo above people are even standing on the top deck? Therefore everyone's safety has also been compromised due to this strike. Change needs to happen but we needn't to work together in order to make it successful for us all. It is as if people in this world have forgotten how to talk to each other.Over the past two weeks it is exceptional how many people have been packed onto the trains as well as the buses in London. On many occasions I have spent the morning on the way to work far too close to many of the other commuters who are desperate to get to work and not be late in order to keep their job. This brings me into the southern railway strike which is happening in London today. Many people are unhappy with their jobs however most of us still get up in the morning and make our way to work in order to make a living and ensure that we have food to put on the table for our families and ourselves. Multitudes of people are in desperate need of a job and I am sure that if the people on the trains are unhappy then they can leave their jobs and someone else will take their place. I am a strong believer that if you are unhappy you need to make a change, I do however believe that we should appreciate what we have and been thoughtful to others in the world as well who are also trying to make a living. London transport needs to run smoother, but it is with the help of everyone as a team which can make this happen. The drivers going against the people whose money goes into the system and pays their wages is not the way to go about it. As seen in the photo above people are even standing on the top deck? Therefore everyone's safety has also been compromised due to this strike. Change needs to happen but we needn't to work together in order to make it successful for us all. It is as if people in this world have forgotten how to talk to each other.
Sent via Guardian WitnessSent via Guardian Witness
By PiinkbezziBy Piinkbezzi
13 December 2016, 9:5513 December 2016, 9:55
Despite the crush, reader GydaGwen, still supports the strikesDespite the crush, reader GydaGwen, still supports the strikes
Inconvenienced but supportiveInconvenienced but supportive
I managed to get a very busy Thameslink to work this morning but others weren't so lucky. I support the strikes because I know the government's stance is political. I don't trust anything Grayling says. Southern are awful and the franchise should be given to TfL.I managed to get a very busy Thameslink to work this morning but others weren't so lucky. I support the strikes because I know the government's stance is political. I don't trust anything Grayling says. Southern are awful and the franchise should be given to TfL.
Sent via Guardian WitnessSent via Guardian Witness
By GydaGwenBy GydaGwen
13 December 2016, 9:5713 December 2016, 9:57
Updated
at 11.53am GMT
10.56am GMT10.56am GMT
10:5610:56
Damien GayleDamien Gayle
The RMT’s Steve Hedley insists the strike is about removing the “safety critical” role of guards on trains.The RMT’s Steve Hedley insists the strike is about removing the “safety critical” role of guards on trains.
Speaking to Damien Gayle at London Bridge he said hoped the government would allow Govia, which operates the Southern Rail franchise, to negotiate in good faith. “As you can see there is a total shutdown today of the entire network,” he said. Speaking to Damien Gayle at London Bridge he said hoped the government would allow Govia, which operates the Southern rail franchise, to negotiate in good faith. “As you can see there is a total shutdown today of the entire network,” he said.
#southernstrike @RMTunion's Steve Hedley explains why @ASLEFunion drivers are on strike pic.twitter.com/dxqbiY3QHh#southernstrike @RMTunion's Steve Hedley explains why @ASLEFunion drivers are on strike pic.twitter.com/dxqbiY3QHh
Updated
at 11.53am GMT
10.46am GMT10.46am GMT
10:4610:46
The strike continues to divide politicians on party lines. Labour MP Rob Flello reacted with anger, after Grayling suggeseted that the government is considering changing union law to ban strikes on the rail network. The strike continues to divide politicians along party lines. Labour MP Rob Flello reacted with anger after Grayling suggested the government was considering changing union law to ban strikes on the rail network.
Don't even think about banning strikes Grayling. It's a democracy do your job instead & facilitate talks #southernstrikeDon't even think about banning strikes Grayling. It's a democracy do your job instead & facilitate talks #southernstrike
Former Tory MP, and former children’s minister Tim Loughton pointed out Labour’s financial ties to the unions involved in the dispute. Former Tory MP and children’s minister Tim Loughton pointed out Labour’s financial ties to the unions involved in the dispute.
ASLEF gave Labour £185,000 & RMT donated £4125 to Islington North Labour Party-in unconnected news Labour refusing to condemn rail strikeASLEF gave Labour £185,000 & RMT donated £4125 to Islington North Labour Party-in unconnected news Labour refusing to condemn rail strike
The SNP’s Gavin Newlands calls for more geographical perspective. The SNP’s Gavin Newlands calls for a more geographical perspective.
Question for those outside of London. Do u think if this strike had been north of Watford this would have led news? Me neither #southernrail pic.twitter.com/YZlnDVCfvjQuestion for those outside of London. Do u think if this strike had been north of Watford this would have led news? Me neither #southernrail pic.twitter.com/YZlnDVCfvj
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.48am GMT at 11.52am GMT
10.40am GMT10.40am GMT
10:4010:40
Chris Grayling has dismissed Sadiq Khan’s call to switch control of Southern to Transport for London as “simply nonsense”.Chris Grayling has dismissed Sadiq Khan’s call to switch control of Southern to Transport for London as “simply nonsense”.
Speaking to LBC he said:Speaking to LBC he said:
“What the Mayor is doing is promising one thing to people inside London and another thing to people outside.“What the Mayor is doing is promising one thing to people inside London and another thing to people outside.
“The Mayor’s just said we’ll provide faster more frequent services. Well the reality is if you get a suburban train in the morning, you know that these these tracks are jammed full. The challenge is getting any space for any more trains. He’s also promised people outside London that he won’t actually introduce more trains because of the fears outside London that actually there might be fewer services from the coast for example. So I don’t buy this.“The Mayor’s just said we’ll provide faster more frequent services. Well the reality is if you get a suburban train in the morning, you know that these these tracks are jammed full. The challenge is getting any space for any more trains. He’s also promised people outside London that he won’t actually introduce more trains because of the fears outside London that actually there might be fewer services from the coast for example. So I don’t buy this.
“He’s been Mayor for four and a half months, he’s got some significant problems with Transport for London having big financial difficulties, the Piccadilly Line is in a state of chaos, he’s running out of money for projects already in the pipeline and he’s making grand promises about things like bridges over the Thames he hasn’t got the money to build.“He’s been Mayor for four and a half months, he’s got some significant problems with Transport for London having big financial difficulties, the Piccadilly Line is in a state of chaos, he’s running out of money for projects already in the pipeline and he’s making grand promises about things like bridges over the Thames he hasn’t got the money to build.
“So I’m afraid people should take what the Mayyor says with a pinch of salt.“So I’m afraid people should take what the Mayyor says with a pinch of salt.
“Let’s concentrate this week on trying to get a resolution to the Southern rail dispute, which is all about services in Cambridge to Brighton not services that are just within London.”“Let’s concentrate this week on trying to get a resolution to the Southern rail dispute, which is all about services in Cambridge to Brighton not services that are just within London.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.55am GMTat 10.55am GMT
10.27am GMT10.27am GMT
10:2710:27
Damien GayleDamien Gayle
Damien Gayle has been talking to pickets outside London Bridge station.Damien Gayle has been talking to pickets outside London Bridge station.
One driver, who preferred not to be named, said the issue they werestriking over was safety. “If you’ve got a 12 carriage train coming upfrom Brighton, it could have a thousand people onboard.”One driver without a guard was not able to ensure the safety of somany passengers, he added.One driver, who preferred not to be named, said the issue they werestriking over was safety. “If you’ve got a 12 carriage train coming upfrom Brighton, it could have a thousand people onboard.”One driver without a guard was not able to ensure the safety of somany passengers, he added.
10.22am GMT
10:22
The Press Association has stories of commuter woe:
A man who will miss telling his two young children a bedtime story because of the Southern strike is just one of the thousands of angry commuters to vent their frustrations.
Jim Boyden, a management consultant, from Shoreham, West Sussex, said he will be forced to stay in a London hotel until Thursday because of the lack of trains between his home and Victoria.
The 38-year-old shared a photo of his one-year-old son Zac and wrote an emotional tweet to Southern: “Because of your strike, I am unable to travel home until Thursday and read him and his sister a story. Because of your strike, we will not discover what animal is hiding in his favourite book tonight, or tomorrow night.
“Because of your strike, he will be unable to take me by the hand and show me his favourite toy, which is ironically, a choo choo train.
“Because of your strike, I will miss his smile.
“You can refund me my Season Ticket. You can refund me my hotel. I can even make up time at work, but how – how – are you going to give me back the things money can’t buy? “For God’s sake, sort it out.”
Another parent who took to the social media site to complain was a mother whose six-year-old daughter was left in tears after a school trip to the British Museum was called off at the last minute due to the train chaos - which included problems on TfL’s Victoria Underground line.
Monica Corduff-Gonzalez, 44, from Forest Hill, south-east London, said: “With the anticipated extra pressure on the Overground created by there being no Southern service, and severe delays at Highbury and Islington, the school decided to postpone the trip to the new year.
“I was going to be going on the trip with my daughter and my husband was taking the day off work to look after my toddler. My daughter was super excited about the trip and having her mum with her, and there was flood of tears this morning at finding out the trip was cancelled for today.”
One commuter who usually uses Southern Rail to get from Sydenham in south-east London to King’s Cross left the house more than two hours early to avoid overcrowding on the alternative Overground service.
Carmen Butterworth left at 5.45am instead of 8am to avoid being late for work.
Butterworth, 33, a personal assistant, told the Press Association: “I knew that everyone would be forced to use the already overcrowded Overground and it would probably be a struggle to even board and I can’t be late to work.
“The blame doesn’t just fall with Southern. However I do not think much of how they have handled the strike – telling half a million people not to attempt to travel on a work day isn’t practical.”
People’s tweets caused #southernstrike and #southernrail to trend on Twitter.
Natasha Gourlay-Harris took to Twitter to call on Southern to refund her pre-paid 30 Christmas work lunch, which she feared she would miss because of the strike.
Gourlay-Harris, 45, travels from Cheam, near Sutton, to London Victoria via Hackbridge and was stuck on a bus “in appalling traffic” for half an hour before finding the main entrance to Sutton station had been closed - with commuters being funnelled through a smaller second entrance.
The personal assistant said: “When will the Government step in?! I pay over 2,000 a year for a really awful service and then I read the company that owns Southern are taking in 90+ million in profits? It’s criminal. And criminal that these profits are not going back into the system that makes all this money.”
Updated
at 10.27am GMT
10.01am GMT
10:01
Some car drivers have been tooting support for striking train drivers at the Selhurst depot picket in south London, PA’s Jemma Crew reports.
Passing cars hoot in support of drivers on the #southernstrike picket line outside Selhurst depot pic.twitter.com/X23fOvG5jv
Updated
at 10.13am GMT
9.57am GMT
09:57
The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has rejected London mayor Sadiq Khan’s proposal to put Transport for London in charge of the suburban rail services currently run by Southern and other operators.
In a letter to MPs, Grayling said: “Transport for London has no experience of running a mainline railway like this.”
He also claimed the rail unions were being unreasonable. The letter says: “I wish we were dealing with reasonable people on the union side. For all the shortcomings of the train operator – and there have been many – and the failures of the infrastructure – also many – it is difficult to resolve any of the other problems on this network while the union leadership seem hell bent on fermenting this dispute.”
Updated
at 10.51am GMT
9.43am GMT
09:43
Damien Gayle
At London Bridge station, a key Southern rail terminus, every platform was marked with a large red X, writes Damien Gayle.
A few passengers were waiting, scratching their heads.Benan Yolcu, 21, a law and criminology student at Brighton University, said the strike had affected her “horribly”.
“I have an exam today and I don’t think I’m going to make it on time.”
She said she knew a strike was coming, but added: “I thought it was not going to be today, and when I checked online [on a rail timetable app] it said that everything was running normally.”
She held up her phone to prove her point.
Yolcu said she had no idea why the train drivers had gone on strike. Still, she had some sympathy for them.
“I understand that they might have their reasons,” she said. “However, [Brighton trains] every hour? Come on. People have things to do. I understand people have their situations, but other people have jobs.”
Updated
at 10.18am GMT
9.36am GMT
09:36
Departure boards at London Victoria and London Bridge make grim reading.
Damien Gayle at London Bridge says there are very angry passengers on the concourse. His snap of the departure board explains why.
More than half the departure boards at Victoria this morning displaying no journey information #southernstrike pic.twitter.com/pNj7ui1cyV
Updated
at 9.45am GMT
9.25am GMT
09:25
Caroline Bannock
If you’ve been affected by the strike we’d like to hear from you. Are you using alternative means to get into work or are you staying at home? If you won’t be making it into the office, what are you doing instead? You can share your experiences, photos and videos with us by clicking on the blue ‘Contribute’ button on the blog.
Updated
at 9.45am GMT
9.21am GMT
09:21
Opposition politicians continue to blame the government for the strike.
The Green party joint leader, Caroline Lucas, urged ministers to do more to resolve the dispute.
Profound sympathy with other #Southernfail passengers battling rail system today. Govt should be actively resolving it not washing hands
Labour’s former shadow transport secretary Michael Dugher says the strike highlights systemic problems with the rail network.
Southern Rail shows a railway system that, as Labour has highlighted for years, doesn't work for passengers. Zero accountability or control
Shadow Welsh secretary, Jo Stevens, is also backing the strike.
Judges rule @ASLEFunion legitimately taking industrial action. Legal burden on unions already onerous. Tories now want to ban rail strikes
But the Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who had the party whip withdrawn after a sexting scandal, is sceptical about the strike.
This @BBCr4today interview isn't going well for the train union guy - sounds like he wants the strike simply to be vindictive #justsaying
Updated
at 9.46am GMT
9.01am GMT
09:01
The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has been giving a series of broadcast interviews expressing his view that the strike is “futile”.
His department has also posted a defiant video address in which Grayling says: “We are not prepared to end the modernisation of the railways.”
He said he didn’t understand why the unions were so resistant to modern technology.
Unions strike action unnecessary. No jobs being lost and no pay being cut  - unions disputing who presses button to close train doors. pic.twitter.com/dpJE3nYg91
Updated
at 9.49am GMT
8.55am GMT
08:55
Julian Glover, the former special adviser at the Department for Transport, insists the strike is about union pride and their control of the railways rather than safety as the unions claim.
Miserable rail strike isn't about 1. safety - driver control's been used since BR and it's fine or 2. jobs, protected. Or pay.
Strike IS about 1. union control of rail - can trains run w/out RMT permission 2. pride. Southern's got people's backs up.
Unions should meet govt. without conditions and talk. Old working practices + higher costs + higher fares = less investment, worse trains
Updated
at 9.59am GMT
8.46am GMT
08:46
Damien Gayle
Commuters at Balham station are being forced to take taxis to work, writes Damien Gayle.
Andrea Dunn, 24, and Gemma, who declined to give her surname, 32, werewaiting outside Balham station to share an Uber taxi. “We’re totalstrangers waiting to share an Uber now,” Gemma said.Dunn, who works at Sky, said she had no idea what thestrike action was about. But Gemma, who said she would miss a clientmeeting as a result of the strike, had stronger opinions. “I’m blamingthe RMT,” she said. “I think they are too aggressive, too frequent.”Asked what she knew about the reasons for the strike, Gemma said:“Train guards and locking doors, I think. Not having enough trainguards; they want to take train guards away so there’s no one to lockdoors in person.”Gemma’s assessment of the strike was even shared by oneSouthern rail worker directing passengers to alternative routes.“These drivers are never happy, but they earn £55k,” the worker said.“They are making these problems up. I saw my manager … normally theRMT and him, they should be different things, right? But they go outfor drinks together. It’s all planned, we know that.“They are going to have a very nice Christmas.”
Updated
at 10.01am GMT