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| Rail strikes: Train workers at five firms walkout in safety row | Rail strikes: Train workers at five firms walkout in safety row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Commuters are facing up to three days of disruption, as staff at five train firms begin a fresh wave of strikes in separate disputes over "rail safety". | Commuters are facing up to three days of disruption, as staff at five train firms begin a fresh wave of strikes in separate disputes over "rail safety". |
| Rail, Maritime and Transport union members at Northern, Merseyrail, South Western Railway and Greater Anglia are striking today, Wednesday and Friday. | Rail, Maritime and Transport union members at Northern, Merseyrail, South Western Railway and Greater Anglia are striking today, Wednesday and Friday. |
| RMT members at Southern are also staging a 24-hour walkout. | RMT members at Southern are also staging a 24-hour walkout. |
| A Department for Transport spokesman said the five franchises would "keep passengers moving" during the strikes. | A Department for Transport spokesman said the five franchises would "keep passengers moving" during the strikes. |
| The 24-hour walkouts were called over separate disputes, all concerning rail safety, the RMT said. | The 24-hour walkouts were called over separate disputes, all concerning rail safety, the RMT said. |
| It said the disputes were over issues including the role of train guards and the extension of driver-only services. | It said the disputes were over issues including the role of train guards and the extension of driver-only services. |
| Strikes on each of the affected days will run from 00.01 until 23.59 GMT. | Strikes on each of the affected days will run from 00.01 until 23.59 GMT. |
| All of the affected firms have said they will be running services during the strikes: | All of the affected firms have said they will be running services during the strikes: |
| The Isle of Wight's Island Line - run by SWR - will also operate hourly on Monday and Friday, with buses replacing services on Wednesday. | The Isle of Wight's Island Line - run by SWR - will also operate hourly on Monday and Friday, with buses replacing services on Wednesday. |
| BBC Breakfast presenter Victoria Fritz tweeted from a quiet platform in Basingstoke, which is operated by South Western Railway, that most commuters have found alternative modes of transport. | BBC Breakfast presenter Victoria Fritz tweeted from a quiet platform in Basingstoke, which is operated by South Western Railway, that most commuters have found alternative modes of transport. |
| Daniel McCormack from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, admired the view from the platform at Sandal and Agbrigg station while he waited for his delayed train. | Daniel McCormack from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, admired the view from the platform at Sandal and Agbrigg station while he waited for his delayed train. |
| Jeffries Craig from Hedge End, Southampton, tweeted South Western Rail passengers were "face to face without access to a handrail" and did not feel safe. | Jeffries Craig from Hedge End, Southampton, tweeted South Western Rail passengers were "face to face without access to a handrail" and did not feel safe. |
| Commuters on the 07:00 Southampton to London Waterloo service told the BBC it was "quieter than normal". | Commuters on the 07:00 Southampton to London Waterloo service told the BBC it was "quieter than normal". |
| BBC Surrey's Peter Stewart was at Camberley train station where platforms were "deserted" and there was "no business for the man running the coffee shop on the station concourse". | |
| RMT general secretary Mick Cash has written to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling calling for a summit with the Department for Transport and the train companies. | RMT general secretary Mick Cash has written to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling calling for a summit with the Department for Transport and the train companies. |
| He said agreements had been reached in Scotland and Wales to keep guards on new modern trains. | He said agreements had been reached in Scotland and Wales to keep guards on new modern trains. |
| "With goodwill on all sides we can reach an agreement in England as well," he added. | "With goodwill on all sides we can reach an agreement in England as well," he added. |
| TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady urged the government to respond "positively" to the proposal. | TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady urged the government to respond "positively" to the proposal. |
| The Department for Transport said the row was not about safety, adding that "no one is losing their job". | The Department for Transport said the row was not about safety, adding that "no one is losing their job". |
| "Employees have been guaranteed jobs and salaries for several years," the spokesman said. | "Employees have been guaranteed jobs and salaries for several years," the spokesman said. |
| "The independent rail regulator has stated unequivocally that driver-controlled trains, which have been used in this country for more than 30 years, are safe." | "The independent rail regulator has stated unequivocally that driver-controlled trains, which have been used in this country for more than 30 years, are safe." |
| He added: "Despite the best efforts of the RMT to cause misery for passengers, the train companies will keep passengers moving with the majority of services running as planned." | He added: "Despite the best efforts of the RMT to cause misery for passengers, the train companies will keep passengers moving with the majority of services running as planned." |
| It comes as Prime Minister Theresa May defended the latest train fare increases - of 3.4% - insisting rail investment was needed. | It comes as Prime Minister Theresa May defended the latest train fare increases - of 3.4% - insisting rail investment was needed. |
| Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she said: "A lot of people rely on our railways - we want to see good service on our railways but that does mean that investment is needed." | Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she said: "A lot of people rely on our railways - we want to see good service on our railways but that does mean that investment is needed." |