Rail strikes set to cause serious disruption for commuters

The management of Southern trains has tonight denied walking out of talks with the RMT union.

The two sides were in negotiations about planned changes to the role of conductors and guards on the trains. The RMT members say they are against a move to driver-only trains.

While Southern say they are trying to modernise the service. ITV Meridian's Transport Correspondent Mike Pearse spoke to Alex Foulds from Southern.

Today's talks to avert further strike action by conductors on Southern trains who belong to the RMT union have broken down.

Conductors walked out on two days this week over plans to change the guard role - and to run driver only trains.

Steve Hedley, the Assistant General Secretary, of the RMT union told ITV Meridian that the managers of Southern had just walked out of the negotiations. He was interviewed by ITV Meridian Transport Correspondent Mike Pearse.

Talks aimed at settling the guards dispute at Southern trains broke down a short time ago with the RMT union saying it would "escalate the dispute."

More strike days are expected to be called when the union executive meets next week.

The union say managers "stormed out of the talks" after failing to reach agreement.

The row centres on changes to the role of the guard.

Peace talks will be held later to try to avert further industrial action by Southern rail staff.

This week saw a twenty-four hour strike disrupting thousands of journeys. RMT union members are angry at proposed changes to the role of guards.

People who use Southern train services had some good news today. Talks about ending strike action by guards are to be held this Friday.

Yesterday long queues and hundreds of cancelled services - 700 of them - made getting around impossible for many. Mike Pearse reports.

Southern was forced to cancel more than 700 trains - a third of the service - during the first day of a strike action by guards. It is thought up to 300,000 passengers in Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire were hit with cancelled trains or having to make alternative plans.

The strike ends at 11am on Wednesday, but disruption will continue all day as trains and staff will be in the wrong part of the network.

Southern say it did run 1,400 trains. This was possible because 40 per cent run without guards and managers were operating other services. The was in line with the planned strike service.

The dispute centres on changes to the role of the guard, with drivers closing train doors. Southern says it wants to make staff more visible and new On-Board Conductors would spend more time helping passengers. They say there will be no job losses or pay cuts.

Talks aimed at averting further strikes by Southern Railway conductors are to be held on Friday, sources said.

Video report. Hundreds of rail conductors went on strike today in a row over plans to change the role of the guard. Around 400 RMT members who work for Southern Rail walked out from 11am in the first of two days of action.