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Southern warns of 'severe' rail disruption after strike | Southern warns of 'severe' rail disruption after strike |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Services on the Southern rail network are being severely disrupted following a 48-hour strike by train drivers, the rail operator says. | |
The two-day walkout ended at midnight but all routes are expected to be affected throughout Thursday. | |
A reduced service is operating across the Southern network with no service on some routes due to the ongoing overtime ban by Aslef drivers. | |
Talks are being held at Acas to prevent further strikes, including on Friday. | |
Southern passenger services director Angie Doll said: "We will be working hard to run as many services as possible. | |
"But, regrettably, I have to warn passengers that services will be severely impacted, with reductions and cancellations across all routes." | "But, regrettably, I have to warn passengers that services will be severely impacted, with reductions and cancellations across all routes." |
Train disruption | |
There are no trains on some routes, including between East Croydon and Milton Keynes Central, and on the Gatwick Express between the airport and Brighton. | |
There are no direct trains between London and either Portsmouth or Southampton, or London and Reigate, with a very limited peak service between Brighton and London. | |
A bus service is in operation between Lewes and Seaford. | |
Services are expected to be disrupted during the evening as drivers prepare to take further strike action on Friday, Southern said. | |
The train operator said the overtime ban by the Aslef union would continue to have an impact on services every day. | |
Talks have been held at conciliation service Acas in a bid to prevent further strikes. | Talks have been held at conciliation service Acas in a bid to prevent further strikes. |
Aslef said progress was made on Wednesday, but a planned strike on Friday would still go ahead. | Aslef said progress was made on Wednesday, but a planned strike on Friday would still go ahead. |
Negotiations are due to resume later. | |
Both Aslef and the RMT union, which has been staging separate strikes since April, are planning further stoppages. | Both Aslef and the RMT union, which has been staging separate strikes since April, are planning further stoppages. |
The two unions are in dispute over changes to guards' roles on driver-only operated (DOO) trains, which would see drivers opening and closing doors. | The two unions are in dispute over changes to guards' roles on driver-only operated (DOO) trains, which would see drivers opening and closing doors. |
The RMT fears jobs cuts and has safety concerns, while Aslef has described DOO as "inherently unsafe". | The RMT fears jobs cuts and has safety concerns, while Aslef has described DOO as "inherently unsafe". |
Aslef's general secretary, Mick Whelan, has said DOO is "old, not new technology" designed for four-car trains in the early 1980s. | Aslef's general secretary, Mick Whelan, has said DOO is "old, not new technology" designed for four-car trains in the early 1980s. |
He said rail workers now have 1,100 passengers on a 12-car train and, under DOO, two seconds to check 24 sets of doors. | He said rail workers now have 1,100 passengers on a 12-car train and, under DOO, two seconds to check 24 sets of doors. |
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, has said trains where drivers close the doors are safe. It has claimed that a third of trains across Britain operate this way and have done so safely for 30 years. | The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, has said trains where drivers close the doors are safe. It has claimed that a third of trains across Britain operate this way and have done so safely for 30 years. |
Planned Southern strike dates | Planned Southern strike dates |
00:01 Friday 16 December to 23:59: Friday 16 December (Aslef and RMT drivers' strike) | 00:01 Friday 16 December to 23:59: Friday 16 December (Aslef and RMT drivers' strike) |
00:01 Monday 19 December to 23:59 Tuesday 20 December (RMT conductors' strike) | 00:01 Monday 19 December to 23:59 Tuesday 20 December (RMT conductors' strike) |
00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January (RMT conductors' strike) | 00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January (RMT conductors' strike) |
00:01 Monday 9 January to 23:59: Saturday 14 January (Aslef and RMT drivers' strike) | 00:01 Monday 9 January to 23:59: Saturday 14 January (Aslef and RMT drivers' strike) |