Commuter hell in London and surrounding areas as Southern 24-hour strike hits
Thousands set to be hit by cancelled services to and from the capital as train guards walk out over changes to their role
THOUSANDS of commuters in and around London face chaos after train conductors walked out on some of the country’s busiest routes.
RMT members of Southern rail began their second 24-hour walkout on Wednesday in a dispute over the role of train guards.
Six routes into London Bridge and Victoria were cancelled in addition to the busy service between Clapham Junction and Milton Keynes.
Several more routes from London to stations in the south of England are expected to run early final services.
Others will run a limited service between 7.30am and 6pm with Southern warning travellers to expect a “significant” impact on services throughout the day.
The train operator said it expects to run around two-thirds of its 2,100 services.
Gatwick Express and Thameslink trains are largely unaffected but will miss out certain stations on their route.
Commuters took to Twitter to describe cramped conditions on their morning journey into the capital.
One tweeted: “Could be on for a world record for most people in a train carriage here. Get Cheryl and Kris [presenters of Record Breakers] down to Clapham junction.”
But others were not so surprised, with one commuter writing: “Delays, overcrowding and cancellations: don't know why there's so much fuss about the #southernstrike, it's the regular everyday service!”
Nearly half a million passengers use the Southern rail network each day with the affected Brighton to London line one of the busiest in the country.
The strike comes after staff fought against plans to stop guards operating trains on doors.
The RMT accused bosses of trying to axe train guards completely.
General secretary Mick Cash said: “Our members have been backed into a corner by this aggressive and unpopular company and have had no option whatsoever but to fight to defend the safety-critical role of the guard on these rammed-out and unreliable Southern routes.”
Southern chiefs insisted they were willing to get around the negotiating table with the union.
Dyan Crowther, GTR Chief Operating Officer, said: "Despite repeated efforts over six months, the RMT Union seem unwilling to talk properly about this.
“Our door remains open to talks but they seem determined to inflict another day of misery on Southern commuters. It's time for them to come back to the negotiating table, and talk sensibly about these changes.
“The only thing that changes is the new conductors will no longer close the doors, a task that passes to the driver with the aid of CCTV.
“This will cost no-one their jobs, and frees up staff on board trains to better serve passengers."
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