The Secretary of State for Transport, Christ Grayling, has written a letter and said publicly that he will meet RMT and ASLEF for discussions about the future on the condition that they suspend their strike action.
He makes it very clear that he is unsatisfied with GTR and Network Rail's performance on Southern, however he is also clear that the principle cause of delays in the last few weeks has been the industrial action undertaken by the RMT. The Department of Transport is working to solve the numerous problems, which I have detailed in my recent blog and on the Trainwatch section of my website, but any progress is being held back by completely unnecessary industrial action. Both official and unofficial strike action has caused misery for passengers.
It is worth noting again that the independent rail safety regulator has ruled that the use of Driver Only Operation on Southern is safe. In fact it has been used for years across the country, including on Southern, as the Transport Secretary points out unions did not strike then why are they striking now?
I hope the unions accept the Transport Secretary's offer and call off their unnecessary and damaging strike.