Summary

  • The boss of Southern rail and a union chief have agreed to hold fresh talks in a bid to resolve the crisis on the network, the BBC understands.

  • Charles Horton, of parent company GTR, and Mick Lynch, assistant general secretary of the RMT, held impromptu discussions after the BBC recording.

  • Commuters affected by the strikes, delays and cancellations demanded a quick resolution to the dispute.

  • Members of the Aslef union are due to walk out for three days this week - tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday.

  • Viewers in London, the South East and the South can see the debate programme at 19:30 GMT on BBC One.

  • Updates on Monday 9 January 2017

  1. Union wants 'common sense' settlementpublished at 10:53 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    A senior member of the RMT has said he wants a "common sense" settlement to the dispute with Southern rail over the role of driver-only operated trains.

    Read More
  2. RMT's action 'grossly disproportionate'published at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    The chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) says the RMT's strike action has been "grossly disproportionate".

    Read More
  3. Join me for a special programme tonightpublished at 09:35 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Danny Pike
    Presenter, BBC Sussex

    Have you got a view on the #southernstrike?

    I'll be taking your calls and reaction in a special radio programme tonight.

  4. 'You could not get me home on time to see my son'published at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    Commuter Emma Green from Littlehampton in West Sussex told the panel how she had to leave her job to work closer to home - because she couldn't rely on the trains to get her home to see her son.

  5. 'I want to see TfL running suburban metro services'published at 08:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    Could Transport for London run some Southern rail services?

    Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly, certainly thinks so... 

  6. Mayor: 'Seaford is suffering dreadfully'published at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    The Mayor of Seaford, Lindsay Freeman, described how the strike had affected the town. 

  7. Southern rail debate: Get involvedpublished at 08:24 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Ben Weisz
    Political reporter, BBC Sussex

    Here's a flavour of what happened at our BBC South East Southern rail debate.

    You can watch it in London, the South East and the South on BBC One at 19:30 GMT.

    You can also hear the whole thing tonight on BBC Sussex, BBC Surrey, BBC Radio Kent and BBC Radio Solent in a special programme hosted by Danny Pike.

    He'll be on air and asking for your thoughts between 19:00 GMT and 21:00 GMT.

    Get involved by calling 03459 570057 or using #southernstrike on social media.

  8. 'How do you sleep at night?'published at 08:07 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    That was the question from Christian Brideson to Southern's Chief Executive Charles Horton and Mick Lynch from the RMT Union.

    Mr Brideson says he used to commute to London but is now too ill to do so.

    And he believes the strike has contributed to his illness.

  9. Sussex MP: 'It's hard for the Government to come up with more'published at 07:30 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    Huw Merriman, the MP for Bexhill and Battle, is also a member of the influential Transport Select Committee.

    Here's his view on whether the Government should intervene, or whether it should have got involved earlier, in the Southern rail dispute.  

  10. More bad news for commuters...published at 07:14 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Kathryn Langley
    BBC Live reporter

    Tube staff have gone on strike across the entire London Underground network in a row over ticket office closures.

    Workers from the RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) unions are staging a 24-hour walk out.

    "Last-ditch" talks, called for by the Mayor of London, failed to materialise after unions rejected a "new offer" from Transport for London (TfL).

    A closed Liverpool Street underground stationImage source, AFCGEM

    Passengers have been warned that most Zone 1 stations are likely to be closed during the action.  

    TfL has advised passengers to check for updates on its website., external

    Read the full story here.

  11. Worst rail strike in 20 yearspublished at 07:03 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    Here's a look at why the Southern rail dispute is causing problems for so many people.

  12. Union boss: 'The company is refusing to come to a compromise'published at 06:47 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    That's the view of Mick Lynch from the RMT Union.

    Here's what he had to say when he was asked why a resolution to the dispute has not yet been reached.

  13. Southern boss: 'I am deeply sorry'published at 06:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    Charles Horton, Chief Executive of Govia Thameslink Railway, which runs Southern, had these words for passengers and the unions.     

  14. Three-day strike to go ahead this weekpublished at 06:20 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Kathryn Langley
    BBC Live reporter

    Train driver members of the Aslef union are planning to take strike action tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday, meaning severe problems for commuters.

    Southern says there will be no services on the strike days and only limited bus links from a small number of stations.

    As a result the company is advising people wherever possible to make alternative arrangements. For more details from the company, and how to claim strike compensation, click here, external.    

    A sign warning of strike action at a stationImage source, Getty Images
  15. Southern rail 'agrees to fresh talks'published at 06:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    The boss of Southern rail and a union chief agree to hold fresh talks in a bid to end the crisis on the network, the BBC understands.

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  16. Southern Rail Crisis - a BBC TV debatepublished at 05:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2017

    Kathryn Langley
    BBC Live reporter

    Good morning and welcome to this special live page with updates throughout the day on our Southern rail TV debate.

    On the panel are, from left to right, Huw Merriman the MP for Bexhill and Battle, Charles Horton, the CEO of Govia Thameslink Railway, which runs Southern rail, Mick Lynch from the RMT union and Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly.

    Southern Rail Crisis panel

    Remember, viewers in London, the South East and the South can watch the debate on BBC One at 19:30 GMT tonight.

    And we want to hear from you. You can get involved by using #Southernstrike, external, by emailing us or sending us a message on Facebook, external