Summary

  • Updates on Tuesday 5 July 2016

  1. get involved

    'Some kind of plague?'published at 13:17 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    You've been telling us what you think of the dispute between Southern and the RMT. 

    Please continue by using the hashtag #Southerncuts, external, or you can Facebook, external or email us.

  2. Good news for holidaymakers?published at 13:10 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Stuart Maisner

    Dyan Crowther, the chief operating officer of Southern, said the impact of changes to the timetable for holidaymakers travelling to Gatwick Airport had been "thought through".

  3. 'Current situation is totally unacceptable'published at 13:05 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Louise Ellman MP, chairwoman of the Transport Select Committee, said: "Today’s evidence session reflected the high volume of correspondence we had from angry passengers who use the Southern Railway network.

    "It is clear that the current situation is totally unacceptable and you only have to look at the number of delays and cancellations, and the impact these have on passengers, to realise that these problems need to be addressed immediately.

    Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Select Committee
    Image caption,

    Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Select Committee

    “We will watch carefully to see how the new emergency timetable, with its planned cancellations, helps and how the operator and unions can work together to find a permanent solution that improves the poor services passengers have suffered for too long."

  4. Huw Merriman: 'Someone needs to bang heads together'published at 13:01 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Bob Dale
    Reporting live from Westminster

    Huw Merriman, who is the MP for Bexhill and Battle, said "someone needs to bang heads together" to find a solution between Southern and the RMT.

  5. No direct trains between Tonbridge and Victoriapublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Claire Cottingham

    GTR have clarified there will be no direct trains between Tonbridge and Victoria when the revised timetable comes in on Monday. 

    Passengers will have to change at Redhill.

  6. get involved

    'Is this some kind of olive branch?'published at 12:42 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    You've had your say on Twitter using the hashtag #southerncuts, external. Here's a selection of some of your frustrated (and humorous) tweets.

  7. Sickness was 'not unofficial action'published at 12:28 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    During the select committee Paul Cox, from the RMT, denied high sickness levels were unofficial industrial action.

  8. Strike-hit Southern rail axes hundreds of trainspublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Hundreds of rail services have been axed by Southern, external rail under a revised timetable in response to ongoing cancellations and delays.  

    Read the story here.

    Southern train and passenger getting onImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Southern is cutting services as part of a revised timetable

  9. 'Unacceptable and appalling'published at 12:05 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, expressed her outrage over the #southerncuts, external to BBC Sussex.

  10. We're saying nothing...published at 12:00 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Claire Cottingham

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  11. Analysis on Southern Cuts: 'Glimmer of hope?'published at 11:53 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Tom Edwards
    Transport Correspondent, BBC London

    What Southern seems to be doing is reducing the services on less heavily-used lines to bolster and give stability to the main commuter routes into London.

    It claims 95% of normal capacity will run into Victoria. Long-suffering commuters will take all of that with a pinch of salt after months of problems. But if you’re being optimistic about this dispute there is a shard of a glimmer of hope.

    Southern train
    Image caption,

    Southern is reducing services on less heavily-used routes

    Southern have so far been extremely unmoving and some would say aggressive in its dealing with the RMT Union. It withdrew free travel leisure passes for conductors and a mutual shift swap system which gave flexibility to working patterns. That caused huge resentment amongst staff. Today it announced it would be re-instating those.

    RMT strike in Brighton
    Image caption,

    The dispute relates to driver-only trains and a change in conductors' roles

    While it does seem the company is intent on introducing changes to the role of conductor by August - and it is difficult to see a way out of this stalemate - this is the first time we have seen a slight thaw in this dispute. 

  12. Southern finish giving evidencepublished at 11:49 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Southern's Charles Horton and Dyan Crowther have finished giving evidence to the MPs on the Transport Select Committee.

    We will be having all the reaction to what they - and the RMT said - on this live page. 

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

  13. 'No easy choices'published at 11:49 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Charles Horton: "When you're cancelling this many services there are no easy choices.

    "We think we have done the most appropriate service pattern we can."

    Charles Horton
    Image caption,

    Charles Horton defended Southern while giving evidence

  14. So when will passengers be able to rely on the service?published at 11:48 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Louise Ellman MP asked Charles Horton when passengers will be able to rely on the service to get them home on time.

    He said: "Monday next week. This is when the amended timetable comes into force."

    Passengers will be keeping their fingers crossed.  

    Louise Ellman
    Image caption,

    Louise Ellman is the chairwoman of the committee

  15. Staff sickness was 'unprecedented'published at 11:43 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Responding to allegations that staff were taking unsanctioned industrial action, Charles Horton, from Southern, said the level of sickness was "unprecedented".

  16. 'Energy, enthusiasm and commitment'published at 11:36 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Southern trainImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Southern said they were the right company to run the franchise

    Charles Horton says the company has "energy, enthusiasm and commitment" to run the franchise.

    He said the company was "committed to delivering on the promises and commitments" they have made. 

  17. 'I am very, very sorry, genuinely sorry'published at 11:33 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Quote Message

    I am very, very sorry, genuinely sorry, for all the customers who have been badly inconvenienced. We are working very, very hard to get people back to work..."

    Charles Horton, Southern

  18. Southern: 'No government approval'published at 11:30 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Southern has denied the Department of Transport and the company were jointly deciding what action should be taken against staff.  

    Quote Message

    The Department for Transport has not approved the plan we put in place."

    Charles Horton, Southern

  19. Claiming Delay Repay 'very straightforward'published at 11:27 British Summer Time 5 July 2016

    Charles Horton was asked about passengers being able to claim Delay Repay compensation for late or cancelled train services.

    He said: "Delay Repay is based on what they (passengers) would normally get.

    "Many of them will be claiming Delay Repay on a regular basis based against the normal timetable."

    He added: "The process of claiming Delay Repay is very straightforward."

    Train ticketImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Passengers can claim compensation for some late or cancelled trains