Furious commuters trade blows as dozens of Southern Rail services are cancelled and delayed over strikes and engineering works
Rail passengers hit by the Southern rail strike have suffered even more disruption this morning because of overrunning engineer works

PUNCHES were thrown as angry train passengers in London suffered more strike misery.
The start of three days of action by the RMT union over conductors led to a third of Southern rail services being axed yesterday.
Late-running engineering work near Gatwick Airport and a broken down train added to their woes.
At East Croydon, South London Ellie Odurny, 32, said: "This doesn't even begin to do justice to the bedlam of East Croydon station this morning.
“Swearing and punches being thrown. Delightful."
Ellie added: "It was pretty chaotic. They'd closed the gates because of platform overcrowding.
"There was a lot of pushing and shoving and some passengers were becoming quite vocal at the staff and rough with one another.
"There was a chap who swung an elbow into someone's face to get in front of them to the gate, and other people really physically pushing each other out of the way just to get to the platform.
"There was a lot of foul language being shouted too, which is just downright unpleasant."
"Commuting from outside of London isn't fun at the best of times but these strikes and constant delays make it virtually unbearable."
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The strike comes after a long-running dispute over the role of conductors.
Charles Horton, chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway which owns Southern Rail, told BBC Radio 4 this morning: "I can't tell you when the RMT are going to stop striking.
"They should stop striking now, the reasons for this dispute have ended."
On Monday the RMT made a final attempt to stop the strikes through conciliation service Acas.
However Southern has said using Acas is "no longer an option" as settling disputes through them has failed "countless times".
The walk-out went ahead this morning after last-minute legal action from Southern failed, but details of the challenge have not been revealed by the rail operator.
Southern have said services will be heavily affected by the three-day action, but have said they will be running 61% of their normal timetable.
A broken down engineer's train has caused services between Brighton and Gatwick to be cancelled or delayed by up to an hour.
This morning's disruption was expected to continue until 9am, Southern warned.
Speaking about the legal challenge they received today, Mike Cash the RMT union's general secretary said: "RMT can confirm the receipt of a formal legal challenge from Southern rail in the guards’ safety dispute.
"It is appalling that rather than sitting down with us at Acas today to seek a resolution, the company have chosen to run to the courts under the cloak of the anti-union laws.
"The union intends to continue with the planned action and is examining the details of the paperwork. We will issue a further statement in due course."
Fourteen days of strikes by up to 400 guards have been announced over the next three months.
At present there will be two strikes in October, two in November, and one in December.
They scheduled dates are as follows:
- Tuesday 11 October to Thursday 13 October
- Tuesday 18 October to Thursday 20 October
- Thursday 3 November to Saturday 5 November
- Tuesday 22 November and Wednesday 23 November
- Tuesday 6 December to Thursday 8 December
Commuters affected by delays may be able to claim a refund from their rail operator.
Passengers took to social media to express their anger at the delays.
One tweeted: "Total chaos this morning, no trains at all to London due to over running engineering works combined with a strike."
Another said he had spent £50 on a taxi to get to work.
The Twitter account for the Association of British Commuters tweeted out: "This is not what passengers pay £1000 a year for. #southernfail Will @Southern Rail UK blame @RMTunion for this today?"
A Southern spokesman said: "We do apologise sincerely to passengers affected.
“Striking today, only three days after union members were instructed to accept the offer shows how militant the RMT has become.
“Whatever the question the RMT answer is always to strike.”
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