Bob Dale

That's it from us for today, and with the Southern rail strike suspended, from 06.00 BST tomorrow we'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather from around Kent.

In the meantime please get in touch with your pictures and videos by tweeting, external us, emailing us or sending us a message on Facebook, external.  

Bob Dale

This evening commuters marched from Victoria Station to the Department for Transport HQ, to deliver a giant letter demanding action over Southern's poor levels of service.

Bob Dale

Bexhill and Battle MP Huw Merriman, who's also a member of the Transport Select Committee, believes it's time the government intervened in the dispute.

Bob Dale

Caroline Ansell, Conservative MP for Eastbourne, is hopeful that the new round of talks will be productive.

Bob Dale

Now that the strike's been suspended, I've pulled together some of the key facts in this video:

Here's how some of you have been reacting on Twitter, to the news that the #Southernstrike has been cancelled:

Bob Dale

Despite the industrial action being suspended, Southern says trains will still be disrupted tomorrow, with the strike timetable still scheduled in rail planning systems.

The company says it hopes to be able to go back to the amended timetable on Friday, which was introduced last month, to cope with the ongoing industrial action and high levels of staff sickness.

The strike won't now take place on Thursday and Friday. Southern and the RMT will be returning to talks hosted by conciliation service Acas.

Southern has just issued the following statement:

Claire Cottingham
Local Live reporter

Day three of the strike is in full swing, some of you have been taking to Twitter, external to express your anger. 

Claire Cottingham
Local Live reporter

Eurostar rail workers are to take seven days of strike action this month in a dispute over their work-life balance, the RMT union says. 

Staff will walk out from 00:01 BST on 12 August until 23.59 BST on 15 August, and for three days over the UK Bank Holiday weekend from 27 August.

RMT's Mick Cash say's they're still hoping to find a resolution.

Claire Cottingham
Local Live reporter

According to Reuters, RMT spokesman Geoff Martin said talks had been suspended but he expected the strike announcement to "focus minds" and bring management back to the negotiating table. 

However, Eurostar are getting prepared for action.

Southern has sent this email to customers reminding them of its compensation scheme

Image source, Southern

Claire Cottingham
Local Live reporter

The RMT union may have offered to suspend its #SouthernStrike, external for new talks, however, some passengers are still in a whole world of frustration.

Services at many train stations across the South East are cancelled again today or have a limited service running through them. Here's a map showing which are affected

Claire Cottingham
Local Live reporter

Chris Roberts attended Brighton's EFL cup match with Colchester last night.

Bob Dale

The RMT union has been accused of holding passengers to ransom by the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling.

Speaking to South East Today, Paul Cox from the union said he was offended by the accusation.

The Transport Secretary has dismissed calls for the government to get involved in the row between the RMT union and Southern rail. 

Despite the ongoing situation leaving thousands of people struggling to use the trains, he says he won't get involved. 

Claire Cottingham
Local Live reporter

For a ground that holds 30,500, just under 7,000 were able to make it to the Brighton v Colchester game last night in the first round of the EFL Cup.

Some are blaming the low attendance on the #SouthernStrike, external.

Image source, Twitter

A spokesman for Southern rail said the company was not prepared to talk with the RMT unless the union was willing to discuss its "eight-point plan".

Image source, AP

Southern's plan is below:

1. Southern will guarantee that every train currently operated with a conductor will continue to have either a traditional conductor or a second member of on board staff diagrammed/rostered.
2. Southern guarantee that traditional conductors will retain current competence and will guarantee that the second member of on board staff will be trained to a ‘safety competent’ level including track safety training, train evacuation, traction competence and full commercial route knowledge (excluding train dispatch).
3. Southern will propose a list of exceptional circumstances, to be agreed with RMT, whereby a train can continue in service without a second member of on board staff, for the benefit of customers.
4. These proposals, including the above guarantees, are dependent upon agreement that services with a second member of on board staff (rather than a traditional conductor) will have the driver in full control of train dispatch. Agreement for this to be implemented will be ratified at local level.
5. Collective bargaining rights for the new OBS role, ensuring that this group will have a voice within the organisation as well as full negotiation rights.
6. A joint review of the OBS role after 12 months of operation, to look at role development, training and future career development.
7. A guaranteed minimum level of voluntary overtime for all OBSs, the detail of which would be agreed with the RMT.
8. A guarantee to retain the OBS role at the levels already guaranteed, beyond 2021, should GTR retain the franchise.  

The five-day strike by Southern rail workers will be suspended on Thursday and Friday if the company "agrees to urgent talks without pre-conditions", the RMT union has said.