Southern services
341 daily services axed on Southern as Govia Thameslink Railway introduces an emergency timetable.
GOVIA Thameslink Railway (GTR) introduced an emergency timetable on Southern Railway from July 11, describing the cutting of 341 daily services as a temporary measure to bring greater predictability to its schedule.
Its website states that the emergency timetable will be in place “until further notice” because “Southern services continue to be severely affected by limited train crew availability, including a high level of conductor sickness”.
A spokesman said the number of cancellations - 15% of all services - was similar to the number of daily cancellations in recent weeks. However, these have been random and often in peak periods, causing widespread distress to passengers.
Under the emergency schedule, all Clapham to Milton Keynes services are withdrawn, as are direct peak services from Guildford to London Victoria. Many Brighton to Southampton services are withdrawn. Some stopping services between Chichester and Havant are replaced by buses, as are trains between Lewes, Newhaven and Seaford. Gatwick Express and other services on the Brighton Main Line are also reduced.
The company said that 95% of peak weekday capacity to London Victoria would still operate, along with 84% of peak capacity to London Bridge.
GTR intends to introduce a new role of On Board Supervisor from August 21. On Board Supervisors will not be responsible for opening and closing train doors.
In an open letter to GTR Chief Executive Charles Horton, RMT General Secretary Mick Cash offered to suspend industrial action for three months, provided the company also suspended plans to alter the duties of conductors.
Cash said: “This will allow us the time and space to sit down together and try to explore options that will seek to deliver the lasting improvements to service and reliability we all want.”
The company response was lukewarm. A spokesman said: “We welcome the suggested suspension of industrial action, but we don’t need three months to resolve this. We are ready to sit down with the RMT and discuss a way forward.”
There was no mention by either side of ending the current high levels of staff sickness, which company sources say is concentrated in a handful of depots where conductors are based.
The RMT maintains that although sickness levels are double those prior to the strikes, every case is genuine with staff providing medical notes. The company counters that the sickness amounts to unofficial industrial action, a claim also made by Rail Minister Claire Perry. The company wants this action suspended as well. As the union does not admit to that action, the stalemate continues unchanged.
The RMT’s offer of talks followed evidence given from both sides to an inquiry held by MPs on the House of Commons Transport Select Committee. Under the chairmanship of Labour’s Louise
Ellman, Horton and Cash were repeatedly asked what concessions would be needed to bring both sides round a table.
In a two-hour hearing, neither side offered new evidence or a softening of their views.
The RMT later announced that it was seeking legal advice on the implications of GTR’s decision to implement the On Board Supervisor role. It is considering the legality of the company’s “failure” to implement a formal selection process, and instead offer jobs on a first come, first served basis.
The union has also approached the ASLEF and TSSA unions to consider “an industrial response” to the introduction of the emergency timetable.
Two days after the Select Committee hearing, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas held a public meeting with GTR managers. The MP for Brighton Pavilion, who had previously called for the company to be stripped of its franchise, said: “The meeting made very clear that there was no appetite to have the role of conductors changed to On Board Supervisors. I’ll be looking into whether there are relevant clauses in the franchise agreement that could be amended to keep conductors on the trains.
“GTR said that Southern will run longer trains and replacement bus services as well where possible. I believe that “where possible” simply isn’t good enough.”