Updates on Thursday 22 September
Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter
That's all from our Southern Rail Strike special live page. Thanks for joining us.
Sussex Live will return at 06:00 BST.
Remember you can get in touch on Twitter, external, on Facebook, external or send us an email.
Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter
Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said: "More strikes will only cause more misery for thousands of passengers.
"We know that there are no risks to jobs or pay, and drivers have been opening and closing train doors safely elsewhere on the railway for decades.
"The proposed changes would mean a better on-board service for customers and less disruption to services when problems occur.
"The rail industry must modernise to deliver the better service today's customers expect and deserve."
Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter
The RMT's Paul Cox blamed Conservative South East MPs for prolonging the dispute.
This evening the South East's only Labour MP, Hove's Peter Kyle, tweeted his opposition to more strikes.
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Five sets of strike dates have been announced by the RMT:
Image source, PA
Jon Hunt
BBC South East Today reporter
I was live at Three Bridges station this evening giving my analysis on today's announcement.
Here's the view of Caroline Ansell, the MP for Eastbourne, on the Southern strikes.
Here's the reaction from Paul Cox from the RMT union.
We've been speaking to commuters at Three Bridges station about the RMT's strike announcement.
Southern Railway workers are to stage 14 days of strike action in five blocks from October in an ongoing dispute over the role of conductors on trains.
Read MoreStuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter
And you're not happy.
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Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter
Here's what the Rail Minister Paul Maynard has said about the RMT's strike announcement today.
“Passengers want a railway that works for them and delivers the timely, modern and convenient service they expect.
“It is unacceptable that the RMT is yet again disrupting passengers’ daily lives with unjustified strikes.
"The travelling public must not be treated with such disdain by unions, and I urge the RMT to call this action off.”
Image source, PA
Jack Fiehn
Political reporter
There seems to be no let-up in this increasingly bitter dispute and the announcement of new strikes will do nothing to improve relations between the two sides.
The RMT has accused the company which runs Southern - Govia Thameslink - and the Government of having no interest in finding a resolution.
Image source, PABut managers insist an offer has been on the table for weeks and say it is the union which is the problem.
Having met commuters on strike days and at public meetings, I know that this news will be met with weary exasperation.
Image source, Getty ImagesAll they want is to be able to travel on trains which leave and arrive on time and which aren't overcrowded.
There doesn't seem to be a chance of that happening any time soon.
Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter
Here's a look at the headlines about this afternoon's announcement in the Southern dispute.
Richard Westcott
Transport correspondent
I've been looking at what the latest round of RMT union strikes on Southern means to commuters.
Darren Hilborn thinks the fact that one of the proposed strikes coincides with the Lewes Bonfire is a 'cynical act'.
Thousands of people converge on the town for one of the UK's biggest bonfire events - and this year Bonfire Night falls on a Saturday night.
The RMT is proposing to strike from 00:01 BST on Thursday 3 November to 23:59 BST on Saturday 5 November.
I notice with dismay that the latest strike coincides with bonfire night in Lewes. Given that this is the only weekend stoppage I cannot believe that this is not coincidence. Having been suffering these strikes for so long to see the union deliberately targeting a very important annual event, and one that is dependent on the trains for people to attend will erode support for the union's position. Many people that have left the town as well as students studying elsewhere return for this event. This cynical act will make this difficult if not impossible.
Darren Hilborn
Image source, Getty ImagesStuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter
You've been having your say on the strike announcement using #Southernstrike, external
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Elizabeth Rizzini
Weather presenter
Here's my lunchtime forecast.
Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter
Angie Doll, GTR’s Passenger Services Director, said: “The RMT’s desire to heap yet further travel misery on the public and affect the everyday lives of so many people is shameful.
“A comprehensive and fair offer has been on the table for weeks and the union leadership’s claims about jobs, pay, safety are trumped-up make believe. This scaremongering by the RMT union is a contrived attempt to gain public support when it knows its spurious arguments about jobs, pay, accessibility and safety have been demolished by independent experts and analysis and are falling on deaf ears.
Image source, PA“As a responsible operator, our priority is to make our services more accessible, not less, and we will not be shaken in that commitment.
"We care deeply about those of our customers who are less mobile and help thousands of elderly and disabled customers week in, week out, to travel with us.
"We will do everything we can to ensure those needing help getting on and off our trains receive our care and attention to get them where they want to be, promptly and hassle-free.
Image source, PA“We’ve always said we are ready, willing and able to sit down and discuss how best we implement our modernisation plans and give our customers the services they expect and deserve.
"The RMT has to stop being the problem and get on board - finally - and be part of the solution. Everyone is sick and tired of the union’s posturing and it has to stop, and stop now. It’s what the public want.”
Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter
So what's the strike about and how might you be affected?
The Argus, external: RMT announces five new dates for strike action on Southern Railway
Eastbourne Herald, external: Southern rail guards to take 14 more days of strike action
Chichester Observer, external: Brighton council meeting suspended after union sit-in.
Image source, Thinkstock