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Southern guards in 24-hour walkout after failed talks | Southern guards in 24-hour walkout after failed talks |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Guards on Southern trains have walked out on strike for the 29th time in their long-running row over safety. | Guards on Southern trains have walked out on strike for the 29th time in their long-running row over safety. |
Talks between the Rail Maritime and Transport Workers union (RMT) and Southern broke down last week in the 10-month-long dispute. | Talks between the Rail Maritime and Transport Workers union (RMT) and Southern broke down last week in the 10-month-long dispute. |
It centres on Southern's plan to make conductors on-board supervisors, giving drivers control of carriage doors. | It centres on Southern's plan to make conductors on-board supervisors, giving drivers control of carriage doors. |
Southern said it expects to run "around three-quarters of its normal service", despite the industrial action. | Southern said it expects to run "around three-quarters of its normal service", despite the industrial action. |
The rest will either be cut completely, be replaced by bus services, or run with fewer carriages than normal. | The rest will either be cut completely, be replaced by bus services, or run with fewer carriages than normal. |
Live updates: Southern strike and Sussex news | Live updates: Southern strike and Sussex news |
Angie Doll, passenger services director at Southern said: "We will be running as many trains as possible on Wednesday but our advice to passengers is to expect some disruption and check on our website before you travel." | Angie Doll, passenger services director at Southern said: "We will be running as many trains as possible on Wednesday but our advice to passengers is to expect some disruption and check on our website before you travel." |
The RMT union said the strike was being "solidly" supported. | |
Mick Cash, general secretary, said members were "standing firm in their action in defence of rail safety". | |
"Our members' resilience for nearly a year now is a credit to the entire trade union movement. | |
"These are local people fighting for safe railways for their local communities." | |
'Lines of communication open' | 'Lines of communication open' |
The 24-hour strike, which began at 00:01 GMT, comes after ongoing talks ended on 14 February without a deal. | |
Two days later, members of the train drivers' union Aslef voted against a deal which union leaders had agreed with Southern. | |
The union held talks with the rail firm on Tuesday, but there are no plans for any further discussions for the rest of this week. | |
An Aslef spokesman said it was re-opening negotiations at the earliest opportunity since the ballot result, but given the length of previous debates, a quick resolution was not expected. | |
Southern's parent firm Govia Thameslink (GTR) added: "All we can say is that lines of communication are open." | Southern's parent firm Govia Thameslink (GTR) added: "All we can say is that lines of communication are open." |