Further strikes loom on Southern after station staff across the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) franchise voted for industrial action over ticket office closures. The RMT union confirmed a 70% vote in favour of a strike, while it said almost 80% of staff who voted backed industrial action short of a strike. A spokesman said: “We note that only one in four (26.9%) voted for strike action, with more than half of RMT station staff members ignoring the ballot. Campaigners and local MPs have demanded a fares freeze for Southern passengers. Green MP Caroline Lucas, many of whose Brighton constituents rely on Southern trains, said the anticipated 1.9% rise was “particularly galling for commuters who have suffered appallingly poor service at the hands of Southern rail”.

Source: The Guardian August 16, 2016 12:12 UTC