​Southern to run more trains during the next RMT conductors’ strike

Southern is putting on extra trains as the RMT union gears-up for two further days of strike action this week on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 November.

Southern will be providing around 60 more trains between Haywards Heath and Victoria, with a half-hourly service running from 07.00 to 22.00. If the strike goes ahead, almost all 156 Southern stations will have either a train or bus service. There will be extra staff at stations to help passengers with arrangements in place for passengers to use alternative transport providers.

On both days, inevitably there will be a restricted service, with many routes having fewer trains, and, unfortunately, on some routes there will be no train service at all but here there will be buses in the peak. On some routes, a service will be provided through ticket acceptance with other train operators.

Angie Doll, Southern Passenger Services Director, said:

"We’re sorry to our passengers that we won’t be able to provide a full service because of the RMT’s pointless and wholly unjustified strike action. The union is causing yet further misery and disruption which is having a material impact on people’s work and family lives. We are moving forward and are operating 100's of trains a day with the driver now operating the doors and a second fully trained person on board, so striking this week will achieve nothing except further hardship for passengers”.

Passengers are urged to plan ahead and can find details of the service provision to help plan their journeys at www.southernrailway.com/rmtstrike. There is also a 'heat map' for passengers available on the page.

Ends

Editor’s notes:

Lewes bonfire

Due to the strike action by the RMT union, it will not be possible for Southern to provide its usual service for the Lewes bonfire celebrations on Saturday 5 November. As a result, no trains will stop at Lewes, London Road (Brighton), Moulsecoomb, Falmer and Glynde stations after midday on Saturday 5 November, until normal services resume on Sunday 6 November.

The arrangements have the support of the Safety Advisory Group, which includes the British Transport Police, East Sussex County Council, Lewes District Council, South East Coast Ambulance Service, Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.