Tensions rising for Go-Ahead as unions set to discuss more Southern action

Tensions will be rising ahead of Go-Ahead’s interim results tomorrow (February 28) as the RMT union, whose industrial action has blighted Southern rail services, meets on the same day to discuss the potential for further future action.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walked out on Wednesday (Feb 22) last week, disrupting services including from Clapham Junction to Milton Keynes, as part of its ongoing dispute with Govia, the franchise responsible for Southern and which is 65pc owned by Go-Ahead. The remainder is owned by France’s Keolis.

Union officials are concerned about the future role of guards on Southern trains and whether they should be in control of the closure of train doors, which Southern says can be done by drivers instead. The RMT has called for urgent talks on the dispute to attempt to bring a resolution to the long-running spat. It says it wants a “guarantee on a second safety critical member of staff”.

The RMT’s executive committee will be meeting on the same day as Go-Ahead’s results (Feb 28) and will be “considering the future of the dispute with a view to further industrial action being taken by guard and driver members”.

A Govia spokesman said it had written to the RMT stating the lines of communication were open on the proviso it suspended all industrial relations.