Summary

  • As it happened on Tuesday 21 June 2016

Live Reporting

Claire Cottingham and Bob Dale

  1. That's it from us

    Bob Dale

    We're closing our live page now. Thank you for all your updates and comments throughout the day.

    Our Kent Live page will start from 09:00 BST tomorrow. Hope you can join us then.

  2. 'Normal timetable returns tomorrow'

    Southern says it will be returning to its normal timetable tomorrow.

    But it says some services may run with fewer carriages because trains will be out of their normal position.

    It says: "We also expect there will be cancellations caused by the issues with train crew availability that we have been experiencing recently. Passengers are urged to check our website in the morning.”

  3. 'I hope they can sit down and talk it through'

    Bob Dale

    Southern trains run from West Kent to London, starting from Tonbridge.

    I spoke to people outside Tonbridge station this afternoon, and asked them what they thought of the dispute.

    Passengers at Tonbridge station

  4. Dad struggles to get home for bedtime

    Chi Cheung described not getting home for bedtime as "horrible".

  6. 'It seems completely absurd'

    Rail Minister Claire Perry is accusing the RMT of using the dispute to block the introduction of new trains.

    Claire Perry, Rail Minister

  7. Southern railway strike: Passengers' reaction

    As a 24-hour strike hits Southern services, passengers have taken to social media to comment on how their journeys have been affected using our hashtag #Southernstrike.

    Read more here.

    BBC

    Katie tweeted her frustration

  8. 'Nobody's going to lose their job'

    Bob Dale

    Dyan Crowther, from Southern's parent company Govia Thameslink Railway, says the RMT's concerns are groundless.

    Dyan Crowther, Govia Thameslink Railway

  10. Petition to remove Southern rail franchise

    Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for Southern to lose its franchise. 

    At 10,000 names the government must respond. The petition is here. #Southernstrike

    Petitions

    Petition calling for Southern to lose franchise

  11. Signs warning of delays

    Claire Cottingham

    Our reporter Bob Dale has been at Tonbridge station with the latest on the #Southernstrike.

  12. Strike in numbers

    Let's take a look at today's #Southernstrike in statistics. 

    Southern strike in numbers

  13. 'We plan to run around 60% of our normal train service today'

    That's the promise from Govia Thameslink as the #Southernstrike continues.

    "We plan to run around 60% of our normal train service today. That's 1,360 trains - we usually run 2,242. This morning's peak saw 90% of Southern services into London Bridge arriving on time and 87.5% arriving on time at Victoria. Almost 30% of conductors rostered to work this morning reported for work."

    Govia Thameslink, Press Office

    Southern say 60% of its normal train service will run todaySouthern

    Southern say 60% of its normal train service will run today

  14. RMT union: 'Like passengers, we've had enough'

    Mick Cash, from the RMT union, spoke to us outside Brighton station.  

    Mick Cash from the RMT union

  15. #Southernstrike due to be discussed on Jeremy Vine's show

    Our reporter Eleanor Roper, who's been reporting from Brighton station today, is due to appear on the show.

    You can listen to the BBC Radio 2 show from noon by clicking here. #Southernstrike

  16. 'Profile of dispute is growing'

    That's according to BBC London's Transport and Environment Correspondent, who's at London Victoria.

  17. 'People are talking about "war" on the trains'

    Richard Westcott
    Transport correspondent

    Two hugely disruptive strikes, two different train companies, same issue.

    The unions want to draw a line in the sand over something called Driver-only-operation or DOO.

    It's where the driver is asked to close the doors at stations, instead of the on-board conductor (guard). Drivers have CCTV in the cabs to check people are clear of the doors, but the unions say it's still not safe and passengers will get hurt.

    They’re also worried it's a Trojan horse policy to phase out train conductors in future, to save money and cut staff. The companies say they'll keep the conductors on board, they'll just be helping passengers instead.

    The dispute is over the introduction of driver-only trains on which guards will no longer open and close doors

    The dispute is over the introduction of driver-only trains on which guards will no longer open and close doors

    We've had DOO trains on Britain's railways for decades. The regulator (ORR) says it's happy they are safe and so does the Rail Safety and Standards Board but the unions don't want any more.

    It's Scotrail and Southern this time around but this issue could flare up on any number of different lines in future.

    People are talking about a "war" on the trains, between the unions on one side, the companies and the government on the other. Neither side wants to budge, and passengers are stuck in the middle.

  18. A bit of light relief on Twitter...

    Claire Cottingham

    You've been getting involved this morning as the #Southernstrike continues - and some have even seen the funny side. 

    You can get involved by tweeting us, using #Southernstrike. 

  19. Passengers: Strike is 'absolutely ludicrous'

    Here's what passengers at Brighton station are saying about the strike.  

    Passengers at Brighton station

  20. 'More staff than passengers'

    Frustrations continue to grow this morning as the #SouthernStrike continues. It's expected to affect your journey all day.

    Greg tweeted this picture, questioning the passenger to staff ratio.