Thursday 20 October 2016 10:01 am

For what it’s worth, Southern Rail has restored 63 services to its timetable

Southern Rail, the company currently locked in a battle with unions over who gets to close the doors on its trains, has said it is restoring 63 more services to its ravaged timetable.

In a statement today the company said its West London Line timetable will go back to full capacity on Monday, while it will add 34 West Coastway services to destinations such as Hove, Bognor, Barnham and Worthing.

Then, from 31 October, another 46 services between Brighton and Southampton and Hastings and Ashford will return, putting its timetable back at full scale for the first time since it was forced to ditch almost 350 services a day – 15 per cent of its timetable – back in July.

Delays ahead

But the train operator also warned passengers should be prepared for trains to be slower during the "leaf-fall period" (aka "Autumn") – meaning Southern and Gatwick Express services departing from Victoria and London Bridge stations may have their journey times extended.

With challenging slippery rail conditions, trains take longer to reach their destinations, leading to congestion, cancellations and delays.

Eight days of strikes

Southern owner Govia Thameslink is in talks with the Aslef and RMT unions to avert eight days of strikes due to take place over the next few months, after the company unveiled plans to introduce trains operated entirely by drivers. That means conductors will no longer have responsibility to operate doors, which the unions argue is dangerous.

Guards have been offered a lump sum of £2,000 by Govia Thameslink, but the RMT union has dismissed the offer as a "bribe".

“There is no offer whatsoever to start engaging in serious talks about the safety and access issues at the heart of this matter," said general secretary Mick Cash.

"Instead, Southern have rehashed the £2,000 bribe to our members even though the company has been told repeatedly that money is not the issue and that the safety of passengers and staff is not for sale.”