Statement from Huw Merriman MP and Amber Rudd MP

We are exasperated by the recent breakdown in talks between Southern Rail management and the RMT Union. Our constituents are experiencing an appalling rail service and, on their behalf, we have spent many hours over the last fortnight injecting ideas to both parties in order to break the impasse and return the service to normality.

We have both experienced the frustration of trains which are cancelled or have had to terminate mid-route because a conductor is not on-hand to join the train. We believe the unions should recognise that there are exceptional times when a train, if capable of being operated solely by the driver, can safely travel. The RMT union has refused to work with Southern to set out these circumstances so we agree that Southern has no choice but to go ahead and deliver these new trains across the network and increase capacity with new rolling stock.

Our railways are 40% less efficient than some European networks. By failing to embrace new technology and working practices, which most passengers would have embraced in their own jobs, the unions are fuelling increases in fares. With GTR guaranteeing no job losses or reductions in pay in this and a possible next franchise, we urge the RMT union to accept that every job has to change with the times and to return to work or the negotiating table.