Southern Rail STRIKE details

[pearl]

Starts well, then gets a little lost and confused, then comes back to some sense.

Also, his argument is equally misleading in points. For example, he states that the new OBS role will not be trained to the same level of track safety as a guard, and yet Southern have said the following in a letter to Mick Cash:

"Southern guarantees that traditional conductors will retain current competence and will guarantee that the second member of on board employees will be trained to a ‘safety competent’ level including track safety training, train evacuation, traction competence and full commercial route knowledge (excluding train dispatch)."

They key here is for Southern to guarantee that there will be an OBS on every service, just as there is a guard. If they are genuinely interested in keeping the second member of staff focused on passenger service then they should have no problem guaranteeing this.

However, we all know that it is the DFT calling the shots and not Southern.

the new OBS role will not be trained to the same level of safety as a guard, the OBS will be trained to a 'safety competent' level, not quite the same

 

[The Merry Prankster]

I'm very pleased to say that me & several other valued customers gobbed off at the driver for their strikes. Go & tell your mates we think your scum. Merry Christmas you ****

I'm not sure anyone, anywhere would value your custom.

 

[Arthur]

The strikes are what they are now. I've got used to them and they really don't bother me. They are an inconvenience but no worse than that.

What is ****ing annoying is the emergency time table. Uckfield line is down to one train an hour between Uckfield and London Bridge. No Uckfield Oxted shuttles and we've lost the morning and early evening half hour services. Yesterday coming home 14:08, 15:08, 17:08, 19:08 and 22:04 all cancelled. So imagine you turned up to get the 2pm train you would have actually having to wait for 2 hour until the next one. The only winners there are the pubs around London Bridge! As it was I got the 18:06 which is normally 10 coaches, last night 6 for two trains worth of people. Was a delightful journey back.

That's it for me. Until this is resolved I'm going to bite the bullet and travel from Tunbridge Wells/High Brooms. Ironically probably the biggest loser because of that will be the pubs around London Bridge.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

The strikes are what they are now. I've got used to them and they really don't bother me. They are an inconvenience but no worse than that.

What is ****ing annoying is the emergency time table. Uckfield line is down to one train an hour between Uckfield and London Bridge. No Uckfield Oxted shuttles and we've lost the morning and early evening half hour services. Yesterday coming home 14:08, 15:08, 17:08, 19:08 and 22:04 all cancelled. So imagine you turned up to get the 2pm train you would have actually having to wait for 2 hour until the next one. The only winners there are the pubs around London Bridge! As it was I got the 18:06 which is normally 10 coaches, last night 6 for two trains worth of people. Was a delightful journey back.

That's it for me. Until this is resolved I'm going to bite the bullet and travel from Tunbridge Wells/High Brooms. Ironically probably the biggest loser because of that will be the pubs around London Bridge.

I was on an Uckfield service yesterday as they decided to remove every direct train to Worthing / Littlehampton via Hove.

I have a Christmas works do on Friday, and kindly enough the RMT / ASLEF / Southern / ISIS have decide to not strike on that day. From last night's 'service' I don't trust Southern to run any trains south later in the evening, especially with the strike due the following day. So, i've covered myself by booking a seat on the 23:30 national express coach from Victoria coach station, just in case.

I'll need to go to Victoria anyway at that time of night, so I'll only use it if the trains aren't running - as it doesn't get to Worthing until 2am and that's on the seafront, so requiring a taxi ride as well. Not bad for £15, and as it's the final stop I could fall alseep without risking missing it.

 

[Hamilton]

the new OBS role will not be trained to the same level of safety as a guard, the OBS will be trained to a 'safety competent' level, not quite the same

That's true, because there will be aspects of training that the OBS will not need - hence it won't be to the same level. However, that does not mean that in aspects of track safety the OBS will be any more lacking in safety training than the present guard.

As I say, if Southern believe in putting passengers first, then they will guarantee an OBS on every service and this whole thing can be fast tracked to an ending.

If the unions do win - and I do support them in protecting jobs - then I hope ASLEF and the RMT will be balloting their drivers on all DOO services for strike action so that the OBS or guard can be reinstated on the 30% of services that do run without a second member of staff. Believe me, during the strike when I've had to board a Thameslink being run with just the driver, boy I've been quaking in my boots - sobbing with fear practically.

I also look forward to stations being adequately staffed so that people of all abilities wishing to board trains can do so safely - whether it's platform staff or an OBS/Guard, who gives a stuff!

 

[Hamilton]

I wonder what Labour think of this situation. Do we even have an opposition government?

I voted conservative and am beginning to WISH we had some form of competent opposition.

Sorry? Labour? Who are they?

 

[synavm]

I was on an Uckfield service yesterday as they decided to remove every direct train to Worthing / Littlehampton via Hove.

I have a Christmas works do on Friday, and kindly enough the RMT / ASLEF / Southern / ISIS have decide to not strike on that day. From last night's 'service' I don't trust Southern to run any trains south later in the evening, especially with the strike due the following day. So, i've covered myself by booking a seat on the 23:30 national express coach from Victoria coach station, just in case.

I'll need to go to Victoria anyway at that time of night, so I'll only use it if the trains aren't running - as it doesn't get to Worthing until 2am and that's on the seafront, so requiring a taxi ride as well. Not bad for £15, and as it's the final stop I could fall alseep without risking missing it.

I thought ASLEF were striking on Friday?

 

[beorhthelm]

That's true, because there will be aspects of training that the OBS will not need - hence it won't be to the same level. However, that does not mean that in aspects of track safety the OBS will be any more lacking in safety training than the present guard.

As I say, if Southern believe in putting passengers first, then they will guarantee an OBS on every service and this whole thing can be fast tracked to an ending.

as i recall the last offer to RMT was that the second safty person would have the same as the current training. however, they are stood firm on the non-gurantee of having an OBS on every service, insisting on criteria for when this can be waived. i can see their reason (every time a train is delayed due to lack of crew), but its also inconsistent with training them to the current levels - why, if they arent *always* present?

more importantly, as i see it, the RMT have lost that argument, by not agreeing to those criteria and Southern forcing through the change to OBS anyway, the guard role will be redundant and replaced with OBS in the next few months with no conditions binding Southern on their availablity and possibly their training or anything else. apparently as they will be in a new role, they wont legally be able to strike over the change any further, which is why theres no more RMT strikes planned past those already announced. interesting if its correct.

 

[oddsonlaughter]

I thought ASLEF were striking on Friday?

They are, its Thursday they are not ( but am expecting trains to be horrendous )

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I thought ASLEF were striking on Friday?

Ah yes. My Do is on Thursday. My mistake.

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

Ah yes. My Do is on Thursday. My mistake.

If it were Friday I guess it would be a 'Don't'?

 

[Papa Lazarou]

If it were Friday I guess it would be a 'Don't'?

I would be Doing for Home.

 

[Simster]

*MY* work do is on Friday though.

Annoying. Luckily, the strike should make getting a cab home nice and easy.

 

[Yoda]

This must be a record for SASTA today. Not ONE train reported as late!

 

[Arthur]

Ah yes. My Do is on Thursday. My mistake.

My do is also Thursday and like you was planning to get a late ideally the last (23:04) train. Like you I also don't trust them but what choice do I have? Not go or leave early. My back up will have to be a train to Tunbridge Wells and a £45 taxi home.

Last week I had a do on one of the strike days so I got a hotel (well Airbnb - hotels in central London in December are astronomical!!) for £100. Kinda tempted to do the same again but it's money I shouldn't have to spend when they are supposed to be running a service. I will probably see if the last train runs tonight and make a call tomorrow.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Great to see them all laughing and dancing on the picket line today on TV - shame about the miserable time their customers are having, missing their families and losing their jobs.

 

[ROSM]

Ah yes. My Do is on Thursday. My mistake.

My Xmas do is this Thursday. I'm planning to go via Victoria or maybe chance the thameslink from blackfriars. Coach is one option or if I get to gatwick then coach from there runs through the night.

Can't stay up in London as I'm doing school run Friday morning as my wife's Xmas so that day.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

My Xmas do is this Thursday. I'm planning to go via Victoria or maybe chance the thameslink from blackfriars. Coach is one option or if I get to gatwick then coach from there runs through the night.

Can't stay up in London as I'm doing school run Friday morning as my wife's Xmas so that day.

The 23:30 coach is very much the last resort backup option. Ideally I wouldn't want to be out in London THAT late, but we'll see.

 

[ROSM]

The 23:30 coach is very much the last resort backup option. Ideally I wouldn't want to be out in London THAT late, but we'll see.

Think I might join you in that insurance policy. We are at rum and sugar at canary wharf. The last time I went there I got home at 2am. Too many dark and stormys, planters punch and rounded off with porn stars and rum espresso martinis. At least I stayed awake on the train home..

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Think I might join you in that insurance policy. We are at rum and sugar at canary wharf. The last time I went there I got home at 2am. Too many dark and stormys, planters punch and rounded off with porn stars and rum espresso martinis. At least I stayed awake on the train home..

I'm at The Parlour, which will be absolutely rammed as it always is, even when it's not almost Christmas.