More misery on the cards for Southern rail passengers as services are still affected post-strike action
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 overtime ban, saying that "in addition to the strike days, services on all routes will be severely disrupted on all dates until further notice".
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It has compiled a map of how various routes are affected, with those in grey meaning no service at all, reduced service on brown routes and on ones with a grey dotted line, only served by buses.
The information applies for 9-12, 15, 17, 18 and 21-23 December.
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Key changes include:
- No Gatwick Express services between Gatwick Airport and Brighton
- No Southern services to/from Beckenham Junction
- No Southern services between East Croydon and Milton Keynes Central via Kensington Olympia
- No Southern trains between Lewes and Seaford (bus service in operation)
- A very limited peak service between Brighton and London
- No direct service between London and either Portsmouth or Southampton (a change of trains will be required)
- Very limited peak services between Tulse Hill and London Bridge
- No Southern peak-only service to/from Guildford
- No Southern peak-only service to/from Wimbledon
It comes after Southern owner Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) was defeated in a High Court battle yesterday in a bid to stop further Aslef walkouts starting next week. A raft of strikes by both Aslef and the RMT are planned around the festive period, as rows over driver only operated trains and changes to the role of the conductors, remain unresolved.
Nick Brown, GTR's chief operating officer, said: "Naturally we are disappointed. The judge said that such unprecedented strike action by Aslef would cause massive disruption to the public."
He added that the action was brought "for the benefit of our passengers".
"The judge has given us permission to go to the Court of Appeal which we will now consider with our legal team."
Aslef's general secretary Mick Whelan said Southern had "wasted shareholders' money, passengers' money and taxpayers' money" on a case "it was always going to lose".