Southern Rail, and the Farce Goes on!

Well, the last 2 days strike by RMT union conductors is over, don't hold your breath, and you've probably already seen the drivers (Aslef union) have accepted a 28.5% pay deal, to be paid over 5 years (BBC website), that appears to include the aim of having a second 'safety-trained' person on board all trains, 'except in exceptional circumstances' - as in, when one is not available! However, trains will still be able to run with only a driver on board, except no-one else will be on board to supervise safety, eg evacuation procedures, indeed, the train will have no facility to assist disabled or older people requiring assistance, so they may well be left stranded on station platforms...

I think we haven't seen the last of this incompetent shower as we return to the inefficient rail service that Southern has provided over recent years, which, in reality, has continued even on non-strike days, and who hasn't been left stranded at Eastbourne late at night with no trains or replacement bus service available, I know I have!

Time to re-nationalise the railways, pretty please!

Southern Rail Strike 8th & 9th November 2017

It pains me to say it, but, more industrial action cometh this Wednesday and Thursday, just how much is this continuing farce costing the taxpayer?!? Anyway, here's a link to the Southern Railway webpage that gives details of planned changes to services, and it appears the rush hour services between Hastings and Ashford will be most hit down here, though, I wouldn't try to catch a late Southern train home from anywhere!

Rail Strikes, for a change...

So, after a whiff of a settlement the conductors of Southern Railway (RMT union) are going on strike for two days this week: tomorrow, Tuesday 3rd, and on Thursday 5th. For Hastings, it looks like the Ashford (laughingly called) 'service' will be hit the most. Of course, there may be a knock on effect on Wednesday and Friday too, but fingers crossed not... For more information and travel advice go to the company's website.

I may not be able to make the Hastings Rail Summit on Friday, it depends on where it will be held, but I shall do my best...

And yet more rail chaos coming! Hmmm...

Do you want to catch one of these trains on either the 3rd or 5th of October 2017? Well, you may not be able too, because, have a guess what?!? Yep, conductors, supported by the RMT union, are going on strike again... Why? Because they believe that trains, including 8 and 12 carriage trains, should have more than just one member of staff on board, and Southern Railway, ie the franchise owned by Govia Thameslink, think they only need one member of staff on board, and they are supported by the Government, and by taxpayers' money which funds the Government's battle against the unions (including the drivers' union Aslef)! More at this website.

Dear oh dear, when will we get a decent rail service?

Southern Railway: Industrial Action Today Reminder!

As I said on Friday, here's another reminder that Southern Railway conductors (RMT union) are striking today, so don't be surprised by industrial action; see the Southern Railway website for advice if you do need to use their services today.

Southern Railway: Good News?!?

The three strike days at the beginning of August planned by Aslef, and their 'work to rule', and the RMT's one planned strike day, have all been called off following "constructive talks" with the Government! I've regularly said that the Southern Railway industrial action is all about political interference by the Government and it's taken over a year for this to be potentially sorted out, by the Government, maybe... See, for example, my latest blog on the subject.

Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling MP, said "We're doing everything we can to resolve the situation... and get passengers the high quality rail services that they deserve." Whilst Aslef appear less positive, though did say the talks were "proactive" and that "Further talks are planned with both the company (Govia/Southern) and then the minister." So, 'monkey' first, and then talk to the 'organ grinder.' See BBC. 

I'd suggest, wait and see...

Added since, now the RMT have "full and frank" talks, their general secretary, Mick Cash stating that the Transport Secretary has a "clear understanding of the RMT position, Grayling said "We want more people helping passengers... not fewer." For more information see BBC.

Southern Railway: Industrial Action Today...

There is RMT (conductors) industrial action today, in addition to the ongoing 'work to rule' being carried out by Aslef (drivers). Probably best to travel by South Eastern if heading for London, though, should you wish to check up on planned railway services from Southern, you can refer to their website, good luck!

General Election & Manchester bombing bring relief to our trains?

Having read my blogs during the last 12 months, I am sure you know what I mean! Government interference has consistently blocked any agreement between the unions involved (RMT and Aslef) in the dispute over having Southern trains being staffed by only 1 person, a driver (and 2 other train companies in England now!)... The guards, RMT, respectfully put off a strike following the bombing in Manchester last Monday, and now the drivers, Aslef, have suspended industrial action to allow for further talks (BBC). I know we can all see what will happen after Thursday 8th, depending on the result... 😩 

And all we want are decent rail services to and from Hastings...

Re-nationalise Southern Railway, you know it makes sense!

Rail Chaos, will it ever end?!?

Now, members of the Aslef union (drivers on Southern Railway) will refuse to work overtime from the end of May. The union asserts that "Southern has refused to budge in talks on the introduction of driver-only-operated trains." This will mean more cancellations and train delays, as there are not enough drivers working on Southern, consequently, timetables are only managed by drivers working overtime...

Aslef announced the latest development in the year-long dispute after the most recent talks with Southern and its parent company Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) broke down on Tuesday. If you can bear to read anymore about this, go to the BBC website. 

Oh dear... 

Oh dear! More industrial action for Southern passengers to survive!

If I'm not talking about South Eastern, I'm talking about Southern Railway... I'm now (un)happy to announce that RMT on Southern, and on Merseyrail and Arriva Rail int' frozen North, are going on strike on Tuesday the 30th of May 2017, Southern and the RMT have not come to a reasonable conclusion, why am I not surprised?!?

Time to sort out Southern Railway?

Is now the time to sort out the mess that is Southern Railway? The BBC report (website) that talks are re-starting to sort out the mess, oops, I mean, to resolve the year-long industrial dispute; it has been a YEAR now, poor long-suffering rail passengers! 

A spokesperson for Southern said: "We're pleased to be meeting the RMT in a bid to try and find a route forward to end their dispute." 

Whilst the RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash, said: "The union welcomes the opportunity to engage with Southern rail in further talks.

"We expect there to be no efforts to undermine these important talks from other parties and that they will be allowed to take place free from external interference." 

Maybe there will now be no further 'efforts to undermine' the talks, being as the Government should now be concentrating on campaigning for the general election, and so should not have the time to interfere (see my blog of last year); unless Peter Wilkinson is given the duty of keeping up the 'good fight' of course! Anyway, fingers crossed...

PS. Amber Rudd never did reply to me! (See blog).

Rail Details for Today

Another day with our train 'service' from Hastings effected by industrial action in the South and South-East, due to conductors on strike, ie RMT members who are employed by Southern Railway, (again rail services up north with Northern and Merseyrail are also involved today)... If you need to travel on Southern before midnight, here is a link to what's been arranged to account for a disrupted service on Southern's website.

Looks like Rail Strike this Saturday...

The RMT strike on Saturday looks to be going ahead... (Southern website).

Yet More Rail Chaos to Come!

Members of the Aslef union (drivers) have rejected the second deal in the long-running dispute over driver-only operated trains on Southern Railway, voting by 372 votes (51.8%) to 346 (48.2%) against the proposed deal, see Aslef website.

Aslef General secretary Mick Whelan said: "We understand and support the decision arrived at in a democratic vote." Govia Thameslink Railway (Southern's owners) said it was "hugely disappointing..." 

With Aslef re-joining the fray, and the RMT (conductors) still in it, and in other areas of the country too, we can expect even more disruption of our local railways, nice to live in Hastings, indeed, at least we have South Eastern to use if we want to travel afar (cars and coaches notwithstanding, of course!), thank you Government!

Another Aslef/Southern "Deal"

Govia, ie Southern's parent company; have come to a secret agreement with the train drivers' union, Aslef, and so, their members are now being asked, for a second time, to vote on the 'agreement' as they recently rebutted the first 'agreement.'  Aslef obviously have the stronger hand in any potential deal, that is, stronger than the guards' union, the RMT, and Southern appear to be doing well in dividing the opposition to driver-only operated trains, damn the safety issues! See the BBC website for further information.

Industrial Action on the Railways... AGAIN!

So, yet another day with the train 'service' effected by industrial action in Hastings and the South and South-East, though this time, RMT members, ie conductors on Northern and Merseyrail as well as on Southern, have joined in (thanks to the BBC for this image, by the way)! If you need to travel on Southern before midnight, here is a link to what's been arranged to account for a disrupted service on Southern's website.

Of course, rail workers from other rail companies are now joining in the fray, as the Government continues to interfere in 'franchised' train companies operating, with its policy of bringing in driver-only trains across the country to save staffing costs. The unions' argument (Aslef  drivers are still involved, of course, indeed, many Aslef drivers on Merseyrail have refused to cross picket lines and so further disrupted Merseyrail's service today) is that this is about safety, though it has to be about jobs as well, in reality.

The unions do not trust the Government, let alone the train operating companies, to ensure jobs are safe, as plans are afoot to re-train guards to become drivers as current drivers retire, thus, the so-called reduction of guards' duties will see only one member of staff left on trains, including 12 carriage trains stopping at platforms where there are fewer than 12 carriages meeting the platform, and we have many station platforms down here that have fewer than four carriage length platforms! Consequently, jobs will be lost...

Not to mention, no guards to help customers with special needs and disabilities, eg blind people and those in wheelchairs, nor guards to collect fares from those who board trains at stations with no staff, thus losing income too! Oh well... I haven't been around for a few days as I had a weekend away, coincidentally, having to use the 'replacement bus service' between Brighton and Polegate yesterday, this one due to railworks, will it ever end?

And Rail Users Continue To Get The Worst Deal!

Go-Ahead, who own 65% of Govia (who operate Southern Railway), have announced that their profits have dived because of the catastrophe that is Southern... 

"Go-Ahead said it was talking to unions to try to resolve the issues. Group chief executive David Brown said: "We have faced lengthy and significant industrial relations issues related to the modernisation of working practices.

"Our customers have suffered months of disrupted travel, impacting work and family lives and we are sorry that such inconvenience and hardship has been caused. Discussions with trade unions are ongoing as we strive to reach a full resolution of these issues," he added." See more at the BBC. 

If you really want to make more profits, don't do the Government's dirty work for them (See previous blog). Meanwhile, taxpayers continue to pay £millions to maintain this farce, fares continue to rise ahead of inflation, and rail users aren't getting a service! 

The RMT (conductors) have organised a 24 hour strike in this area, and around the country, for Monday 13th March, and who knows what Aslef (drivers) will do next...

24 hour RMT Conductors Strike on Southern today...

From Southern Railway it appears that there will be services from Hastings today, but there are some cancellations planned; see website for details, and good luck!

Aslef to rejoin the Southern Fiasco!

So, Aslef members (the majority of train drivers) have voted by 54.1% to 45.9%, on a turnout of 72.7%, to reject the 'deal' with Govia Thameslink, the owners of Southern Railway... Now it's wait and see how many more Southern trains will be lost due to strikes and working to rule by Aslef, in addition to the RMT strikes, oh dear...

Southern Strike Announced for 22 February.

The RMT have announced they will strike for 24 hours next Wednesday; see BBC.