Southern Rail strike update: Passengers face 40th day of disruption as Britain's longest-running industrial dispute continues

Union claims members are 'solid and united' in dispute over driver-only operation; most trains running normally

Britain’s longest-running industrial dispute rumbles on (RMT)

Britain’s longest-running industrial dispute, between the RMT union and Southern Rail, rumbles on. Members working for the train operator, which mainly covers south London, Surrey and Sussex, are striking for the 40th day in a dispute over the role of guards.

The RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “Our members stand solid and united again today in the fight for passenger safety and access.”

The dispute over “driver only operation” has spread elsewhere in the UK. Mr Cash has told The Independent: “We believe that the travelling public, paying a fortune in fares which is siphoned off in private profits, would rather see that money invested in a properly and safely staffed railway.”

Southern Rail is part of the Govia Thameslink Rail (GTR) franchise. Driver-only trains are running as normal on its Gatwick Express and Thameslink services.

Most lines on Southern are running almost as normal. The only affected lines are off-peak services between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction, the few Southern trains serving Guildford, and the Brighton-Hove shuttle service.

Mr Cash said: “We are now receiving regular reports of trains running without a guard or OBS [on-board supervisor] on board on Southern Rail and of disabled passengers being denied support and access.

“The scandal of Southern Rail cannot be allowed to continue and GTR should get out of their bunker and get back round the table with the union.”

A GTR statement read: “The RMT strike will have no impact on the vast majority of passengers.

“We renew our call for the union to end this pointless dispute. The RMT should face the reality that the changes they are objecting to were successfully introduced a year ago.”