UK Southern Rail Halts Service as Transport Union Holds Multiple Strikes

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The UK Southern railway company has temporarily stopped its service as the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) is preparing to hold strikes on Tuesday and later this week.

The UK Southern has been affected by the strikes over the recent months. The latest union strike was scheduled for Tuesday, but was in question as the Southern's parent company Govia Thameslink (GTR) has turned to the Court of Appeal to overturn its recent decision backing the action by the ASLEF. The hearings ended Monday with the court's rejection to bloc the action.

"Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14 & Friday 16 December — Driver strikes. No Southern services operate and you are advised not to travel… There will be severe disruption on all dates because of this industrial action," the railway company said in a brief note on its website.

On Thursday, which is a non-strike day, the service will be reduced all across the Southern railways, with no service on certain routes, the company warned.

Earlier this month, the UK Southern warned that ASLEF was also planning strikes on n December 31-January 2, as well six consecutive strikes between January 9 and 14.