Summary

  • Updates on Tuesday 5 July 2016

Live Reporting

  1. That's it from us

    We've come to the end of today's live page on Southern's cuts - we hope you enjoyed our text and video updates.

    A quick summary of today's train news:

    • Southern has confirmed 341 train services have been cut
    • The cuts will last for four weeks and will then be reviewed
    • RMT claims crisis has been caused by "gross mismanagement" from Southern

    You can still have your say by tweeting #southerncuts, or getting in contact with us through Facebook or email.

  2. You've been having your say on Facebook

    Here's some of your comments from Facebook on the Southern cuts announced today.

    Facebook postFacebook
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  3. Call for extra passenger compensation

    Peter Kyle, who is the MP for Hove, has said he has written to the Transport Secretary wanting to know what arrangements for compensation will be made for those passengers affected by Southern's cuts.

    Peter Kyle

  4. Which services will be cut?

    Take a look at where the cuts earmarked by Southern are likely to take place:  

  5. RMT: Sickness was 'not unofficial action'

    Paul Cox, from the RMT, denied high sickness levels were being used as unofficial industrial action. The union leader gave evidence before the Transport Select Committee earlier.

  6. 'Unprecedented' staff sickness

    Responding to allegations that staff were taking unsanctioned industrial action, Charles Horton, from Southern, said the level of sickness was "unprecedented". He was giving evidence at the Transport Select Committee earlier.

  7. 'I will never go on strike'

    Another email shows the frustration felt by commuters who use Southern rail.

    I have decided it may be best if I leave my city job and learn how to drive a train seeing as I spend half my life on Southern’s services. 

    I promise to learn how to drive the train in less than six months and I will never join a union or go on strike. I will also be happy to press the button to close the doors.

    Does this help? When can I start?

    Martin Capel

  8. Sussex MP: 'Horror' at rail dispute

    One of the members of the committee Huw Merriman, who is the MP for Bexhill and Battle, said he was "horrified" by the situation with the RMT and Southern Rail

  9. 'We should get fare reduction'

    Commuters have been getting in contact with us to express their anger over the dispute.

    Please tweet us using #Southerncuts, or you can use Facebook or email.    

    The cuts to the Southern Timetable... are 341 out of 2,242 which is a 15.2% reduction.

    We should be getting at least a 15.2% reduction in fares – realistically for the inconvenience it should be nearer 25%.

    When will Southern implement this ?

    John Murrell

  10. RMT: 'Staff not to blame'

    Giving evidence earlier at the Transport Select Committee, Mich Cash from the RMT said the chaos at Southern was down to poor management. He said staff were not to blame.  

  11. What's your experience of Southern rail?

    BBC Sussex is running a survey on Southern rail and the service it's offering.

    You can have your say here.

    Commuters protesting at Brighton station

    Commuters staged a protest at Brighton station

  12. Analysis: 'Problem lies with coastal service'

    So what impact will the train cuts have on Southern commuters? Our reporter Juliette Parkin, at Brighton station, has this analysis:

  13. 'We can fly a spacecraft to Jupiter but getting from Worthing to Brighton...'

    You've been having your say on twitter using #southerncuts.

  14. 'Beyond a joke'

    Paula has emailed us asking for action to be taken. 

    Please tweet using #Southerncuts, or you can Facebook or email us.  

    Please challenge the leading figures in Govia, Thameslink and Southern rail to travel on their own trains, or try to, every day for a week. I'm sure this matter will be cleared up promptly if they were to do this. It's beyond an absolute joke. TAKE THE CONTRACT AWAY FROM THEM!!! Letting them reduce the timetable as some sort of solution is beyond comprehension to me.

    Paula Hopkins

  15. Lunchtime weather

    Kate Kinsella
    Weather presenter

    So what will the weather be like this afternoon for Southern passengers (and everyone else)?

    Here's my forecast.

  16. Commuting mother: 'I can’t face seeing signs that say ‘cancelled, cancelled, cancelled’'

    Claire Cottingham

    Lorna Cobbett, who gave birth to premature triplets, one of whom suffered catastrophic brain injuries, says she’s already getting "stressed" and "anxious" about going back to work in case she can’t get back to see her children.

    Lorna from Horsham, in West Sussex, commutes to London and is preparing to go back to work in September.

  17. Analysis: 'Frustrating for all involved'

    Bob Dale
    Live from Westminster

    This was a frustrating session for all involved.

    Everyone agreed Southern's performance of late has been unacceptable, but on how it should be fixed both sides seem as far apart as ever.

    Southern train and passenger getting onPA

    Southern bosses and RMT officials were quizzed by MPs on the Transport Select Committee

    Mick Cash of the RMT was adamant that there'd be no backing down on the union's demand that guards remain on trains. He also denied that the increase in levels of sickness was unofficial industrial action, blaming stress.

    Charles Horton of Southern's parent company Govia, repeated the operator's apologies to passengers, but was equally resolute in his position that guards would no longer be responsible for closing train doors.

  18. 'My children were better behaved'

    Paul Horner, a commercial manager at Transport for London (TfL), has emailed us to express his anger today - suggesting the unions and Southern were behaving worse than his children.

    Please can you get these two playground imbeciles into a room where they can play conkers until they get this ridiculous dispute resolved. Lock the door, last man standing……

    My children behaved better when they were three than these two, supposedly, grown, intelligent, men (?).

    Why involve us passengers at all? All we want to do is get to work. People have lost their jobs over this and I’ve lost money.

    Paul Horner - commercial manager at Transport for London

  19. Louise Ellman MP: 'It's clear the franchise is not being run properly'

    Bob Dale
    Reporting live from Westminster

    Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Select Committee, said "something has to be done and done quickly" over the chaos on Southern routes.

  20. Key points from today

    • Southern has confirmed 341 train services have been cut.
    • The cuts will last for four weeks and will then be reviewed
    • RMT claims crisis has been caused by "gross mismanagement" from Southern

    Have your say by tweeting #southerncuts, or getting in contact with us through Facebook or email.