Southern Rail strike branded ‘totally unacceptable’ by Home Secretary Amber Rudd
Stand off set to continue for three days this week and in the new year over protest at driver-only trains
The Home Secretary has branded a rail strike which is set to cause misery for commuters as “totally unacceptable”.
Amber Rudd blasted plans by the union Aslef to strike for three days this week and in the new year in protest at driver-only trains.
The action is expected to stop all Southern Rail services and affect as many as 500,000 passengers every day.
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Ms Rudd said “It is totally unacceptable that our local area and communities will suffer further strikes over driver-only operated trains when they already run safely across much of the UK network, and when current staff will take home the same pay following the changes proposed by the train company.”
Aslef said Southern could end the strike plans by coming to a “sensible and workable deal”.
An alert to passengers on Southern’s website said: “You should not attempt to travel.”