This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50614066
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| South Western Railway strike: 27-day walk out begins | South Western Railway strike: 27-day walk out begins |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Commuters are braced for chaos as workers on South Western Railway (SWR) begin a 27-day strike. | Commuters are braced for chaos as workers on South Western Railway (SWR) begin a 27-day strike. |
| It comes after talks between the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and SWR over a long-running dispute over guards on trains broke down. | It comes after talks between the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and SWR over a long-running dispute over guards on trains broke down. |
| The operator called the action "unnecessary". It said "more than half" of weekday trains will run but the last services will be earlier than normal. | The operator called the action "unnecessary". It said "more than half" of weekday trains will run but the last services will be earlier than normal. |
| The union said the strike was "in defence of passenger safety". | The union said the strike was "in defence of passenger safety". |
| The RMT said SWR "point-blank refused" to show any serious movement at talks held at the conciliation service Acas. | The RMT said SWR "point-blank refused" to show any serious movement at talks held at the conciliation service Acas. |
| The union has been demanding that guards should oversee the operation of doors and perform other safety functions in dispatching trains. | |
| It says the company's proposals would leave guards as "glorified porters" without any safety responsibilities. | |
| Assistant general secretary Steve Hedley said members were "absolutely furious" with SWR following the Acas talks. | |
| "Of course our members don't want to lose a month's money running up to Christmas but they're prepared to do that to show that safety and accessibility for disabled people is non-negotiable." | |
| SWR said it has offered "a guard on every train, and a safety critical role for that guard." | SWR said it has offered "a guard on every train, and a safety critical role for that guard." |
| Managing director of SWR Andy Mellors said the action was "unnecessary" and the issue needed settled before a new fleet of modern suburban trains is introduced next year. | |
| "Our assessment is that by having drivers opening and closing doors, that will actually optimise the performance of the network by getting more trains to Waterloo on time. | |
| "We've been very clear that we're committed to keeping a guard on our trains and those guards will have safety critical competencies. Our proposals will make guards more customer facing and improve safety, security and accessibility." | |
| The operator released a revised timetable and said it would provide longer trains to increase capacity where possible. | The operator released a revised timetable and said it would provide longer trains to increase capacity where possible. |
| SWR runs services between London Waterloo and Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth as well as Reading, Exeter and Bristol. It also operates suburban commuter lines in south-west London, Surrey, Berkshire, and north-east Hampshire. | SWR runs services between London Waterloo and Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth as well as Reading, Exeter and Bristol. It also operates suburban commuter lines in south-west London, Surrey, Berkshire, and north-east Hampshire. |
| Strike days are as follows: | Strike days are as follows: |