Railway union RMT goes ahead with South Western Railway strike today, affecting Waterloo services

Drivers on South Western Railway services are on strike today, affecting trains arriving at and departing from London Waterloo.

A reduced service will run across most of the network, although there will be no trains running on some routes, as Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members walk out over safety concerns.

Today is the final day in a string of industrial action after workers went on strike earlier this month over a reduction in the number of guards onboard trains. Union members on Northen Rail services are also on strike today.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT members are standing rock solid again this morning on both Northern and South Western Railway in the long-running fight for safety, security and access on our trains while the private train companies gamble with their passengers well-being. As violence and sexual assaults escalate on Britain's dangerous railways this is no time to be taking risks in the interest of profit.

"RMT has written yet again to both companies seeking talks around the principle of putting safety on the railway first and both have refused to even respond. That stalemate cannot be allowed to continue as it makes a mockery of normal industrial relations and the negotiating process.”

Trains operating out London Waterloo towards Reading, Woking, Southampton, Weymouth and Portsmouth Harbour will all run a reduced service, with replacement bus services running from Salisbury to Exeter St. Davids, and from Guildford to local stations. No service is expected to be running between Southampton, Bristol Temple Meads and Salisbury.

Yesterday SWR said in a statement: “It is time for the union to stop spreading myths and causing misery to our customers and colleagues, and commit to resolving this dispute.”