Industrial action that had threatened the success of several popular events in Sussex next month will not now take place and Southern reinstates its full weekday service timetable from yesterday, Monday 24 July.
ASLEF and RMT drivers had both planned strikes on August 1 ,2 and 4 and ASLEF had placed an ongoing overtime ban on its driver members.
The ASLEF and RMT unions have suspended industrial action that would have disrupted travel to Brighton and Hove Pride (August 4-6), the Goodwood Festival (August 1-5) and Brighton & Hove Albion’s pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, August 6.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) will be running Thameslink’s new, longer 12-carriage trains to and from Brighton through the Pride weekend, with more trains and additional carriages on Southern and Gatwick Express services.
Angie Doll, Southern Railway’s Passenger Services Director said: “We are delighted on behalf of all our passengers that this industrial action has been suspended. The events that we serve over this weekend are important for us and our region and we are delighted to be supporting them.”
“We have been working closely with Brighton and Hove Pride to ensure that this fantastic event is a resounding success, and we’ll continue to liaise with Brighton and Hove FC throughout the season to help get supporters to and from home matches.”
Paul Kemp, managing director of Brighton and Hove Pride, said: “We are very relieved and grateful that the action has been called off and has taken away the uncertainty for people travelling from all over the UK and the world to visit the city for Brighton & Hove Pride.
“The Pride weekend is a critical time for Pride’s community fundraising for the Rainbow Fund and local groups and charities, so we’re just relived that the Pride plans to go ahead unhindered. Brighton and Hove looks forward to welcoming you all to Pride “
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