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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Southern rail strike enters second day as Acas talks start | Southern rail strike enters second day as Acas talks start |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Southern rail passengers are facing a second day of strike travel chaos amid hopes of a resolution to the dispute over who should operate train doors. | Southern rail passengers are facing a second day of strike travel chaos amid hopes of a resolution to the dispute over who should operate train doors. |
| Talks are being held between the rail firm and the drivers' union Aslef at the conciliation service, Acas. | |
| However, the RMT, also involved in the dispute, said leader Mick Cash had been barred from taking part in the talks. | |
| The rail company said no Southern trains would operate on Wednesday and advised passengers not to travel. | The rail company said no Southern trains would operate on Wednesday and advised passengers not to travel. |
| 'State of limbo' | |
| Mr Cash said the RMT had been expecting discussions but instead "have had the door slammed in our faces". | |
| "Southern Rail were fully aware last night that I would be attending the talks this morning at Acas alongside our Aslef colleagues. | |
| "This morning, on arrival for the talks, I was told that I would not allowed to take part by representatives from the company. | |
| "RMT is furious at the complete contempt that has been shown to us by Southern Rail this morning which leaves us in a state of limbo when we should all be around the table thrashing out the issues that have led to the current action," he said | |
| London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the government should stop "playing party politics" and "get a grip". | London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the government should stop "playing party politics" and "get a grip". |
| On Tuesday, the government said it may consider banning strikes on the railways. | On Tuesday, the government said it may consider banning strikes on the railways. |
| A limited Gatwick Express shuttle service to and from London Victoria is operating every 30 minutes and Thameslink is operating a normal timetable. | A limited Gatwick Express shuttle service to and from London Victoria is operating every 30 minutes and Thameslink is operating a normal timetable. |
| The 48-hour strike by members of the drivers' union Aslef over the introduction of driver-only trains is due to end at midnight. | The 48-hour strike by members of the drivers' union Aslef over the introduction of driver-only trains is due to end at midnight. |
| Southern strikes: Latest live updates | Southern strikes: Latest live updates |
| Southern was forced to cancel more than 2,200 services on Tuesday, disrupting hundreds of thousands of passengers. | Southern was forced to cancel more than 2,200 services on Tuesday, disrupting hundreds of thousands of passengers. |
| A further 24-hour strike is planned for Friday. | A further 24-hour strike is planned for Friday. |
| Southern's parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway, has advised customers not to travel on the dates affected by the drivers' strike, and to expect disruption every day until further notice because of an overtime ban. | Southern's parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway, has advised customers not to travel on the dates affected by the drivers' strike, and to expect disruption every day until further notice because of an overtime ban. |
| The RMT union, which has been staging separate strikes since April over changes to the role of conductors, is also planning further stoppages either side of Christmas. | The RMT union, which has been staging separate strikes since April over changes to the role of conductors, is also planning further stoppages either side of Christmas. |
| 'Anger and frustration' | 'Anger and frustration' |
| On Tuesday transport secretary Chris Grayling dubbed the action a "deliberate act of militancy" and claimed Aslef had warned him to expect "10 years of industrial action" at a meeting in September. | On Tuesday transport secretary Chris Grayling dubbed the action a "deliberate act of militancy" and claimed Aslef had warned him to expect "10 years of industrial action" at a meeting in September. |
| He further accused unions of "deliberately trying to bring [the railway] to its knees" and dismissed claims the strike was about commuter safety as "palpable nonsense". | He further accused unions of "deliberately trying to bring [the railway] to its knees" and dismissed claims the strike was about commuter safety as "palpable nonsense". |
| Mr Khan said Mr Grayling was "playing party politics with commuters". | Mr Khan said Mr Grayling was "playing party politics with commuters". |
| "I share the anger and frustration of commuters. My message to the trade unions is get back round the table and sort this out through Acas," the London Mayor said. | "I share the anger and frustration of commuters. My message to the trade unions is get back round the table and sort this out through Acas," the London Mayor said. |
| "My message to the government is 'get your head out of the sand, get a grip and let's sort this out'. | "My message to the government is 'get your head out of the sand, get a grip and let's sort this out'. |
| "Govia has been taking the government and passengers for a ride now for years." | "Govia has been taking the government and passengers for a ride now for years." |
| "It can't be beyond the wit of the government to get their head out of the sand and get a grip." | "It can't be beyond the wit of the government to get their head out of the sand and get a grip." |
| The politics behind the Southern rail dispute | The politics behind the Southern rail dispute |
| What's the Southern Rail strike about? | What's the Southern Rail strike about? |
| How bad have Southern rail services got? | How bad have Southern rail services got? |
| Southern planned rail strike dates | Southern planned rail strike dates |
| 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) |
| Are you a commuter who has been impacted by the disruption on Southern rail services? Or are you an employer whose staff have been struggling to get to work? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your views and experiences. | Are you a commuter who has been impacted by the disruption on Southern rail services? Or are you an employer whose staff have been struggling to get to work? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your views and experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |