Southern Rail Strike: Live updates

That's all from our Southern strike live page for today. We're back at 06:00 GMT with all the latest on day two of the strike, plus the Acas talks.

You can get in touch on Twitter, on Facebook or by sending us an email, with your stories and views of the strike. 

Quote Message: I have endured months of struggling to and from London to work as a violinist, frequently twice a day. I have had to cancel lessons and the annual Christmas Concert for my students because I cannot practically travel to Caterham, my home.

I have endured months of struggling to and from London to work as a violinist, frequently twice a day. I have had to cancel lessons and the annual Christmas Concert for my students because I cannot practically travel to Caterham, my home.

Quote Message: I am out of energy and my mental reserves are exhausted. I don't care who is 'right' or 'wrong' here. All the factions need to talk and stop trying to shirk responsibility.

I am out of energy and my mental reserves are exhausted. I don't care who is 'right' or 'wrong' here. All the factions need to talk and stop trying to shirk responsibility.

What impact will the latest Southern strike have on services and passengers?  

Quote Message: It's not just the poor long-suffering rail commuters being affected by this dispute. Strike days mean that rail users are taking to their cars in order to get to work.

It's not just the poor long-suffering rail commuters being affected by this dispute. Strike days mean that rail users are taking to their cars in order to get to work.

Quote Message: My usual drive to work is 45 minutes. This morning, despite leaving earlier, my journey took two hours. The already congested roads are being severely affected as a result of this rail chaos.

My usual drive to work is 45 minutes. This morning, despite leaving earlier, my journey took two hours. The already congested roads are being severely affected as a result of this rail chaos.

Quote Message: I have been commuting since July of this year with Southern. Since I started I have not experienced a month without strikes. But the strikes every week throughout December are what has made this situation unbearable. It's got to the point where I am considering job opportunities elsewhere.

I have been commuting since July of this year with Southern. Since I started I have not experienced a month without strikes. But the strikes every week throughout December are what has made this situation unbearable. It's got to the point where I am considering job opportunities elsewhere.

Quote Message: Each day I arrive late for work and have to apologise again for my tardiness. I cannot afford to move to London where I work.

Each day I arrive late for work and have to apologise again for my tardiness. I cannot afford to move to London where I work.

Quote Message: I actually want to thank both Southern and the RMT/ASLEF. I live in East Dulwich. We have enjoyed as many as six services per hour during rush hour since we moved in 2000. Now we might as well have none it's so unpredictable.

I actually want to thank both Southern and the RMT/ASLEF. I live in East Dulwich. We have enjoyed as many as six services per hour during rush hour since we moved in 2000. Now we might as well have none it's so unpredictable.

Quote Message: Instead I've bought a folding bike and it's fantastic. I can no get into town reliably and I'm never late back for childcare handover. I'm fitter than I've ever been, I've lost weight and I feel I know London better. I'm just happier.

Instead I've bought a folding bike and it's fantastic. I can no get into town reliably and I'm never late back for childcare handover. I'm fitter than I've ever been, I've lost weight and I feel I know London better. I'm just happier.

Quote Message: So, I've turned my back on Southern, I think permanently. Still, the good news for Southern and the unions is that every single one of their other potential customers relies on them 100% so they can carry on messing around like this and they'll all come back to them when they've finished their fun and games.

So, I've turned my back on Southern, I think permanently. Still, the good news for Southern and the unions is that every single one of their other potential customers relies on them 100% so they can carry on messing around like this and they'll all come back to them when they've finished their fun and games.

Here's a helpful graphic to show when the Southern strikes are taking place over the next month.  

In a nutshell, the Southern strike is about safety, jobs and politics.

On safety, Southern wants to bring in something called driver-only-operated (DOO) trains where the driver, rather than the conductor, opens and closes the doors. Unions say the on-board conductor/guard has a much better view of the doors and can stop people getting trapped. 

BBCCopyright: BBC

Southern has guaranteed that no-one will lose their job, or take a pay cut. The second person will now be free to help passengers, they say.

Then there’s the politics. Ministers are paying Southern's parent company, GTR, to run services, while the government collects the fare money. So the cost of all the strikes and disruption is picked up by the government, not the train firm. 

PACopyright: PA

Whatever happens here will be reflected in future franchises as they take delivery of new driver-only operated trains.

Right now, I really can't see how this dispute will end. No-one's budging on the critical issue. No-one's even talking.

One MP, whose constituency includes thousands of commuters, believes the strike is politically motivated.

Ray Chapman put his house on the market so he could move nearer work but as he explains, it's not quite gone to plan.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Four Southern Rail passengers video blog their mornings during the strike action.

Commuters vlog journeys of chaos

Four Southern Rail passengers video blog their mornings during the strike action.

Read more

This commuter at London Bridge places the blame for the strikes squarely at Southern's door.

Labour PartyCopyright: Labour Party

The Labour MP for Hove and Portslade has spoken of his "despair" after thousands of people were left stranded during the latest Southern strikes.

In an extended Facebook post Peter Kyle says he's "boiling with fury" at the situation.

Quote Message: I feel heartbroken for passengers affected. Each week I read many hundreds of messages and speak directly to dozens of people affected. I've spoken to people who have lost their jobs or given up their jobs, and who's businesses have suffered. I've heard from people who are on medication due to the distress of travelling on overcrowded and late running trains, and I've spoken to a man who was traumatised by the sight of another passenger having a breakdown by a platform edge. And then there's the anger, raw and unmitigated, of people being treated in utterly inhumane ways by an uncaring, unapologetic, and inaccessible rail network.

I feel heartbroken for passengers affected. Each week I read many hundreds of messages and speak directly to dozens of people affected. I've spoken to people who have lost their jobs or given up their jobs, and who's businesses have suffered. I've heard from people who are on medication due to the distress of travelling on overcrowded and late running trains, and I've spoken to a man who was traumatised by the sight of another passenger having a breakdown by a platform edge. And then there's the anger, raw and unmitigated, of people being treated in utterly inhumane ways by an uncaring, unapologetic, and inaccessible rail network.

Quote Message: Please believe me when I say how sorry I am that you have to endure this, I am doing everything I can and I won't give up." from Peter Kyle MP (Lab) Hove and Portslade

Please believe me when I say how sorry I am that you have to endure this, I am doing everything I can and I won't give up."