Southern rail agrees deal with ASLEF to end driver-only dispute

A deal has been agreed between Southern rail and the ASLEF union to end a dispute over driver-only trains, it has been announced.

Both sides have been holding lengthy talks to try and resolve a long-running row which triggered a series of strikes.

Around 1,000 drivers will now vote on the deal, bringing the prospect of relief to passengers who have had to endure months of disruption because of the industrial action and staff shortages.

However, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is still in dispute with Southern over changes to the role of conductors.

In a separate dispute, the RMT is also balloting Merseyrail workers over the role of guards on its service.

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Nick Brown, chief operating officer of Southern's owners Govia Thameslink Railway, told Sky News the agreement with ASLEF had been made after 10 days of "intense negotiations" and that the union was "putting the deal to their members, with a strong recommendation to accept".

When asked whether Southern would be able to run its service without an agreement with the RMT, he said:

"Our door remains open to the RMT, but this provides a very strong foundation for us to be able to deliver the operational improvements that we need to get the service back to where it should be.

"The intention is that we will have on-board supervisors on all of our trains - that is the undertaking we gave last year and we are intending to honour that."

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Andy Meadows, HR director of rail firm Abellio UK, and TUC general secretary Frances O' Grady, who jointly chaired negotiations, said in a statement: "This long-running dispute has clearly been extraordinarily difficult for both staff and passengers, and we are glad that the parties have reached agreement on a way forward."

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, said: "I am pleased that we have finally been able to reach an agreement with the company which reflects the concerns of train drivers.

"I believe this deal can deliver a safer and appropriately staffed railway for passengers on Southern rail and I will be recommending it to ASLEF members."

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "I'm very pleased that ASLEF and Southern have reached an agreement… I hope this means passengers are going to start to see things operate on a normal basis again."