Southern rail strike misery costs millions as 300,000 commuters left stranded December 14, 2016 The economy is facing a hit of tens of millions of pounds as 300,000 commuters are left stranded this week on the back of three days of walkouts by staff on Southern rail. Southern rail commuter services ground to a halt yesterday on a double whammy of walkouts by guards from the Rail, Maritime and [...]
A ray of hope? The Aslef union says it will hold talks with Southern at Acas tomorrow December 13, 2016 The Aslef union has said it is meeting Southern management at conciliation service Acas tomorrow for talks aimed at ending the rail franchise's strikes. The union's announcement comes after its boss insisted this morning it had not been invited to talks – although transport secretary Chris Grayling said he had written to the union to invite [...]
Transport select committee chair reveals it needed to push the DfT hard to get details of Southern rail contract December 12, 2016 The government deliberately withheld details regarding the Southern rail contract from the scrutiny of a select committee, an MP has claimed, and has been accused of dragging its heels on dealing with the rail firm's operational failings. Transport select committee chair Louise Ellman revealed her frustration at the lack of action by the department for transport (DfT) in the [...]
Southern rail tells customers not to travel tomorrow whether or not it manages to block one of the two sets of strike action December 12, 2016 Southern rail has decided to elevate itself to the same level of the great British institution of bad weather and told London's workers not to worry about rail strikes and simply take the day off. While bosses in the City may have been a little more sympathetic to a day of workers being stranded in their houses as [...]
Great Western Railway customers face fresh disruption as cleaners stage two one-day walkouts on run-up to Christmas December 12, 2016 Rail commuters are facing another layer of disruption after unions announced cleaners will go on strike on the run up to Christmas. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) today announced after a "massive yes vote" cleaners would walk out on 16 and 23 December – 109 members voted in favour of the action. Employees of [...]
Southern rail make late attempt to appeal Thursday’s High Court Aslef ruling December 9, 2016 Southern rail has lodged an eleventh hour attempt to avert trains grinding to a halt next week. The rail firm is under unprecedented pressure from two trade unions: joining forces with the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), members of drivers union Aslef will walk out for nine days starting next Tuesday. Whereas previously Southern has managed to [...]
More misery on the cards for Southern rail passengers as services are still affected post-strike action December 9, 2016 This week's strikes by the end Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union might have come to an end, but Southern passengers aren't getting respite just yet. In fact, services are still going to be "severely disrupted", as Southern tries to cope with train drivers' union Aslef's overtime ban. Southern has updated travel advice for during the [...]
High Court rules Aslef strikes can go ahead on Southern rail after legal bid by Govia Thameslink Railway fails December 8, 2016 A High Court judge has ruled that train drivers' strikes on Southern Rail can go ahead from next week, after a legal challenge failed. Southern rail owner Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) had sought an injunction to stop industrial action by train drivers' union Aslef, but the judge ruled the rail operator didn't have grounds to challenge [...]
Ongoing delays on Circle Line due to staff absences December 7, 2016 There are delays on the Circle Line this afternoon. Transport for London said the disruption was a result of a "temporary absence of train operators". https://twitter.com/circleline/status/806525562638503936 Severe delays on the Piccadilly Line are still ongoing, with a large portion of its fleet of trains out for repairs. https://twitter.com/piccadillyline/status/806434485332049921 Disruption on the line is [...]
Govia Thameslink Railway heads to the High Court today in bid to thwart Southern strikes December 7, 2016 Long-suffering commuters are battling through yet another day of Southern rail strikes today. And Southern owner Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is trying to crack down on future industrial action: it's off to the High Court today in a bid to bring an end to at least some of the turmoil. Members of train drivers' union Aslef have [...]