Southern rail strikes begin TODAY with six weeks’ worth of walkouts bringing travel misery over Christmas and New Year
THOUSANDS of commuters are facing travel chaos across London and the south today as Southern Rail workers start six weeks' of strikes across Christmas and New Year.
Around half of Southern services are expected to be cancelled this week with the rest subject to delays as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union stage a three-day walkout.
Drivers' union ASLEF also joined the action, ordering members not to carry out any "non-contractual work" including an indefinite ban on overtime.
ASELF will join RMT in striking next week - with Southern expecting to run no trains at all on 13, 14 and 16 December.
There will then be further strikes on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 December.
Commuters will also face disruption over New Year with more planned walk-outs from Saturday 31 December to Monday 2 January.
And there will be even more commuter chaos from January 9 to January 14 as workers strike yet again.
Hundreds of furious customers have taken to Twitter to slam the train operator, who have failed to come to an agreement with the RMT despite a series of similar strikes over the past year.
One angry passenger claimed they had a "full on break down on the platforms" due to the strike.
They tweeted: "Can I sue #southernrail for my mental distress? I actually had a full on break down on the platforms. #southernstrike"
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Another ranted at the operator after yet more train delays last night. They said: "I have just stood at Victoria for an hour and a half with upwards of 800 other people trying to get home.
"This is they day before we have been told to expect severe disruption and delays.
"Was today a dress rehearsal? Did you feel like the last 7 months wasn't practice enough for running a god awful service?
"Or did you just want another day off, on top of the other 14 you've got planned for the rest of December.
"You're a joke and an embarrassment to the railways. Sort yourselves out and stop wasting out time and money.
"You're lucky we're all still paying for tickets...if I could, I'd have stopped forking out £290 a month a long time ago".
One angry commuter tweeted: "@SouthernRailUK what a total joke this morning! Trains are so delayed and over busy that people can't physically get on. Very bloody dangerous"
Whilst one customer added: "It's meant to be the festive month of cheer & everyone's a little happier but southern rail have hit us with another 16 days of strikes"
The strike is part of a long-running dispute over the role of conductors and the chaos will continue into the New Year.
Southern have already admitted to Parliament they don't have enough drivers to operate their timetable, with delays and cancellations becoming a regular occurrence.
However, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Southern's parent company, has applied to the High Court to stop the ASLEF strikes, with the hearing likely to be heard next week.
Southern Director Alex Foulds said: "Regrettably, because of this wholly unnecessary and unjustified industrial action, there will be severe and significant disruption on our network from next Tuesday and customers are advised that stations will be incredibly busy.
"If passengers can make alternative travel arrangements they should, and if they don't have to travel they shouldn't. If the drivers' strikes go ahead, there will be no services on Southern and customers should not attempt to travel.
"We're doing everything we can to stop the drivers' strike and that's why we a seeking an injunction in the High Court next week.
"This industrial action is a clearly co-ordinated and cynical manoeuvre by the unions to bring yet further travel misery to passengers as well as having a detrimental impact on the regional economy when it least needs it.
"If the unions are listening to passengers then they will call off all industrial action now and give hardworking commuters and their families their lives back."
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our guards members on Southern Rail remain rock-solid and absolutely determined in their action in defence of rail safety this morning.
"The union repeats its demand for Chris Grayling and his Rail Minister to get out of their bunker, stop the mud-slinging and take up the offer from RMT for direct talks to sort out the worsening crisis on Britain's biggest rail franchise.
"Tonight we will make another attempt to engage with Mr Grayling when he makes his big speech on breaking up and privatising Network Rail at the private Policy Exchange event.
"Instead of parading around the newsrooms with his lethal scheme to give outfits like Southern a chance to wreck rail infrastructure, as well as our train operations, the Transport Secretary should be in a room with the unions and GTR (Southern's owners) sorting out the current shambles."
The strike dates are currently as follows:
- Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 December (RMT conductors’ strike)
- Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December (ASLEF & RMT drivers’ strike)
- Friday 16 December (ASLEF & RMT drivers’ strike)
- Monday 19 to Tuesday 20 December (RMT conductors’ strike) – changed date
- Saturday 31 December to Monday 2 January (RMT conductors’ strike)
- Monday 9 to Saturday 14 January (ASLEF & RMT drivers’ strike)
Southern say: "Services are expected to be particularly disrupted on the drivers’ strike dates with no services on most routes. There is also likely to be increased disruption over the Christmas and New Year period.
"Other operators’ services are not affected, but may be busier. Journey planners will only be updated 24 hours before the date in question. Travel updates will be available as soon as they are confirmed on this web page."
These are subject to change so make sure to check the website before you travel.
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