I got a 10 coach Southern metro train in today, to Victoria, with no guard.
I then got the underground for 9 stops - without a guard.
I dare say I'll get an unguarded Southern metro or overground train out again.

This dispute has the potential to escalate unpleasantly. People on the trains are now getting very angry. You might remember them? The travelling public, the innocents in this ridiculous cock sizing game between unions deeply rooted in the past and what seems to me to be one of the most poorly managed organisations on the planet.

In any case there are lots of people that need jobs and would happily work as on board supervisors or drivers.

I was on the 6.30 to London Bridge today.

Four carriages. People squashed in. A pregnant woman tried to get on at East Croydon and didn't because of the crush.

No trains tomorrow.

What a wonderful existence during one of my busiest business times of the year.

Thank you to all involved in this debacle.

"That was fun and to round off the day, I am off to steal a charity collection box and then desecrate a place of worship.” - Smokey, The Selhurst Arms, 26/02/02

From RMT Press Office

Monday 12 December 2016

Immediate

RMT calls for ORR investigation into Southern sabotage of rail services

RAIL UNION RMT will today write to the Office of Road and Rail demanding an urgent investigation after it emerged that Southern Rail cancelled up to 90% of its services from the south coast over the weekend due to "staff shortages" when in fact there were train crew in the depots ready to work and awaiting instructions.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;

"Southern have moved from a position peddling lies to one of deliberate sabotage of services just to give them another excuse to stick the boot into their own staff. That is a disgraceful and cynical development that proves that the company could not give two hoots about the travelling public, running a safe and reliable rail service or resolving the current dispute.

"Throughout the past year the Office of Road and Rail, supposedly an independent regulator, have either sat on their hands or sided with Southern Rail. It is now time for the ORR to get off their backsides and thoroughly investigate this scandal on Britain's biggest rail franchise."

Ends

Geoff Martin.

Indeed. Complete joke. Can't understand how the government haven't stepped in. At this point it doesn't matter who is right, operator should have franchise taken off them and staff should be told to get back to work or lose their jobs. There has to come a point where the public takes priority.

I was under the impression the government had already stepped in through DfT's determination to use this as method to bash unions? Seems to be the government that caused this by setting the franchise up in this way.

Very interesting and horrific if true.

Like Helmet says, I am almost not bothered who is at fault now, I'd just like one day where I don't have to run half way across Brighton to a different train station just to get home from work to see my wife before she goes to bed for her shift work. But I know you have posted this as you do care who is blamed for it, fair enough by the way. I really hope this isn't what has been happening, but wouldn't be surprised.