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Commuter rail strike talks resume as London braces for another disrupted week
Unions and operators return to the table after a weekend of cancelled services across the South East.
Negotiators for rail unions and train operators reconvened in London on Thursday morning, hoping to avert a further week of cancellations that have already strained commuting patterns across the South East.
Passengers at Waterloo and London Bridge described fragmented timetables and longer road journeys, while employers in Canary Wharf reported higher rates of remote working than on a typical July weekday.
What is still on the table
Sources close to the talks said pay, rostering flexibility and safety staffing remain the sticking points. Neither side would confirm whether a cooling-off period had been formally proposed.
“People need predictability more than slogans. A clear timetable for talks would help everyone plan.”
The Department for Transport reiterated that services remain a commercial matter for operators, while urging both parties to keep talking. Further industrial action notices could be issued if no framework emerges by the weekend.
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