Southern Rail strike – what are the March 2018 dates and which trains and routes are disrupted?
RMT Union members on Southern Rail have been on strike and are bringing the threat of further travel disruption to weary and frustrated commuters.
As the bitter industrial dispute rumbles on, here's everything you need to know about the walkouts.
When is the Southern Rail strike?
Union bosses from RMT announced its members on Southern Rail would strike on March 12. There are no further strike days planned for March 2018.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Every single effort that RMT has made to reach negotiated settlements in these separate disputes with the different train operating companies over safe operation and safe staffing has been kicked back in our faces and we are left with no option but to confirm a further phase of industrial action in the New Year.
"No one should be in any doubt, these disputes are about putting the safety of the travelling public before the profits of the private train companies."
The RMT says it has concerns over safety and job losses due to Southern plans to bring in driver-only-operated trains.
What routes are affected by the strikes?
The latest updates on how services run during strikes can be found at .
However, the operator says that most routes operate normally.
This includes the full Gatwick Express and Thameslink services.
However, Southern advised it may be necessary to put a queuing system in place to ease congestion at Clapham Junction.
There were issues and changes on the following lines:
- West London Line: A limited service ran between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction at peak times
- London - Guildford: Only a very limited Southern service operated, including the 6.36am train from London Victoria to Guildford, the 8.16am train from Guildford to London Victoria, the 16.36 train from London Victoria to Guildford, and the 18.22 train from Guildford to London Victoria.
- Brighton - Hove shuttle services: A reduced service operated
- Some cancelled services in the Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Brighton, West Worthing and Portsmouth regions
Why are the RMT union strikes taking place?
The RMT union, which represents guards and drivers, has been calling the strikes in a dispute with Southern Rail over changes to staff roles.
Unions have said the changes could potentially make trains more dangerous.
But the Office of Road and Rail has insisted the trains will be safe so long as the right equipment and training is provided.
Talks between unions and Southern have repeatedly broken down.
latest on travel chaos
After the latest round of negotiations collapsed, Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said the union had offered to suspend the strikes if talks could go ahead on guaranteeing a guard, with safety critical competence, on every train.
In a message to union members, he said: "I was concerned at the response from the company which indicated to the union that, come what may, the SWR agenda is to introduce driver-only operation.
"At the meeting it was clear to us that First/MTR (who operate SWR) want to change the operating model so that with the advent of any new trains they can run such trains without the need for a second safety critical guard. In short, no guard's job is safe."
A spokesperson for Southern said: "Modernisation is urgently required to future-proof and increase capacity on the busiest parts of the UK railway.
"This modernisation needs three things: investment in better infrastructure, new trains, and changes in working practices. The first two elements are being rolled out but the trade unions need to play their part if passengers are to benefit from service improvements."
