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| South Western Railway strike: 27-day walk out begins | South Western Railway strike: 27-day walk out begins |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Commuters are facing disruption as workers on South Western Railway (SWR) begin a 27-day strike. | Commuters are facing disruption 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 and warned of queues at stations. | The operator called the action "unnecessary". It said "more than half" of weekday trains will run and warned of queues at stations. |
| 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. | 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. | It says the company's proposals would leave guards as "glorified porters" without any safety responsibilities. |
| Sophia Griffiths, who travels from Earlsfield station into central London, said: "Usually when they strike the station is not too bad but today was just nuts. | |
| "I saw the queue outside and thought 'no way' - I've never seen it that long so I took the bus to Tooting and got the Tube from there. | |
| "Overall it probably took me about 30 minutes longer to get to work and I think I was lucky. | |
| "I would guess it would have taken at least 30 minutes to an hour just to get into the station." | |
| She said she was supportive of the striking workers and said it was "crazy they (SWR) would let it get to this". | |
| The communications officer at Nuffield Council on Bioethics said she was considering cycling to work during the prolonged action and working from home more. | |
| RMT 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." | "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. | 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. | "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." | "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: |
| Has your journey been affected? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Has your journey been affected? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| 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: |