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TAKE THE CAR INSTEAD!

Now Southern Rail advises commuters to CAR SHARE instead of taking the train as strike misery continues to cripple network

SOUTHERN Rail is advising commuters to car share instead of taking the train as strike misery continues to cripple the network.

Hundreds of thousands of passengers are expected to be affected by six days of industrial action, with the first wave of walkouts planned for next week.

Southern Rail is advising commuters to car share instead of taking the train ahead of a fresh round of strike action
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Southern Rail is advising commuters to car share instead of taking the train ahead of a fresh round of strike actionCredit: EPA
Hundreds of thousands of passengers are expected to be affected when staff walk out next week, pictured are queuing passengers caught up in the last round of disruption
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Hundreds of thousands of passengers are expected to be affected when staff walk out next week, pictured are queuing passengers caught up in the last round of disruptionCredit: Getty Images
Southern Rail appealed to drivers with spare seats to take customers affected by the strikes on its website (pictured)
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Southern Rail appealed to drivers with spare seats to take customers affected by the strikes on its website (pictured)Credit: Southern Rail

And now rail bosses are appealing to drivers with spare seats to help customers caught up in the middle of the dispute over driver-only operation of trains.

Under the strike action travel advice section on the website, Southern staes: “If you need a lift, or will be driving and wish to offer spare seats to customers we recommend Liftshare.com and Carplus.org.uk."

Liftshare and Carplus are companies where drivers can advertise car-sharing opportunities or passengers can request lifts in a bid to be more economic.

Lex Barber, of Liftshare, said it was too soon to give actual figures but told the : “We have definitely seen an increase in traffic since Southern published the website link.

“We always get an increase when there is industrial action, whether it is rail or the Tube.”

Southern staff were due to walk out for six days from Monday but will now strike for three days and three days later in the month, pictured is a sign from the last industrial action last month
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Southern staff were due to walk out for six days from Monday but will now strike for three days and three days later in the month, pictured is a sign from the last industrial action last monthCredit: Getty Images
Commuters, pictured amid the chaos last month, are advised to share cars, work from home or avoid travelling at all amid the strike action
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Commuters, pictured amid the chaos last month, are advised to share cars, work from home or avoid travelling at all amid the strike actionCredit: EPA

Southern also advised people to work from home or remotely if they can, stagger journeys if possible and to only travel if it is "essential" and allow plenty of extra time for journeys.

The strikes were due to take place for six days from Monday but Aslef announced they will go ahead on January 10, 11 and 13.

However they will now walk out in three fresh strikes on January 24, 25 and 27.

Southern said no trains will run on the three strike days next week, but services will operate on the two non-strike days although these will be hit by the continuing ban on overtime by drivers' union Aslef.

Aslef leader Mick Whelan said next week's action was changed out of consideration for how long the dispute will last, and because of concerns from the public about the impact of a week-long stoppage.

Southern's passengers have suffered months of disruption because of industrial action, staff shortages and other problems.

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Aslef members are currently banning overtime which is leading to services being cancelled or delayed every day.

Mr Whelan said: "We are taking a longer-term view of this trade dispute. The company has not been prepared to move - it is simply going through the motions, turning up at Acas and telling us that it intends to impose driver-only operation.

"We remain committed to a negotiated settlement, as was reached with ScotRail, but it is difficult to negotiate with people who are not prepared to be flexible."

Southern announced it is putting in place a number of alternative measures to try to help those commuters who have essential travel needs.

The train operator is organising 200 coaches or buses each day to provide road links for essential travel from nine Southern stations into nearby neighbouring train networks where they can connect into other train operators' services.

Southern Rail workers are caught up in a dispute over driver-only operated trains
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Southern Rail workers are caught up in a dispute over driver-only operated trainsCredit: Getty Images
Liftshare says it's seen an increase in traffic to its website since Southern's advise to passengers, pictured are those caught up in December's industrial action
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Liftshare says it's seen an increase in traffic to its website since Southern's advise to passengers, pictured are those caught up in December's industrial actionCredit: Peter Jordan
An Aslef picket line at London Bridge station during the last strike by train drivers on Southern Railway only weeks ago
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An Aslef picket line at London Bridge station during the last strike by train drivers on Southern Railway only weeks agoCredit: PA:Press Association

Angie Doll, Southern's passenger service director, said: "There will be significant disruption and hardship next week caused by these pointless and unnecessary strikes. With this package of measures, we are putting in place a very limited number of alternative options to help people with essential travel needs get where they need to be.

"Unfortunately, there is no practical way we could replace 2,000-plus trains we run each day with buses, but what we are doing is providing transport to link some passengers into other operators' stations where services are running normally."

Rail minister Paul Maynard said: "All Aslef are doing is extending the misery for passengers. I urge Aslef to call off these wholly unnecessary strikes and come to the table for talks.

"This modern way of running trains has been safely used elsewhere in the UK for 30 years. There is no safety issue; the independent rail regulator has confirmed it is safe."

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union is also embroiled in a dispute with Southern over changes to the role of conductors, which has led to a series of strikes.

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