Southern strikes continue

Southern Railway passengers face further strikes and disruption, following the failure of talks between the company and the drivers’ union ASLEF.

Two days of discussions were held at the conciliation service, ACAS, but no progress was made.

Passengers have so far endured three days of strikes by drivers. On each day no Southern trains at all have run - 2,242 services were cancelled, affecting 300,000 passenger journeys a day. Sister brand Gatwick Express operated half the normal number of services, with trains every 30 minutes.

The company said an overtime ban imposed by the union continued to cause substantial disruption every day.

Conductors in the RMT union also held a further 48-hour strike just before Christmas, with more industrial action scheduled for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and January 2.

The ASLEF drivers then plan a week-long strike from January 9, when no Southern trains will run. 

• For much more on this, read RAIL 816, published on December 21.
• For much more on ths, read RAIL 817, published on January 4.
• For an analysis of the situation by Paul Clifton, read RAIL 818, published on January 18.