All the latest news and reaction as the first of a month-long series of strikes to hit southern England begins
- All you need to know about the South Western Railway strike
- Are you taking part or affected by the strike?
9.47am GMT
Here’s a great Q&A from Gwyn Topham, the Guardian’s transport correspondent, about today’s strike:
The strikes started at 0.01am on Monday and in effect run for the rest of the month. RMT union members will strike for 27 days – for all the rest of December except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when no trains run anyway, and 12 December, general election day, a hiatus too short to bring back full services.
Related: All you need to know about the South Western Railway strike
9.31am GMT
The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a business networking and support organisation, has said the strikes will have a “detrimental impact” on key sectors of London’s economy.
Sean McKee, director of policy and public affairs at London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “London businesses recognise the right to strike, but this prolonged strike action is a cynical move deliberately designed to cause inconvenience to the travelling public in the run to, and through, Christmas. It will have a detrimental impact to key sectors of the capital’s economy, which rely upon festive and tourism trade.”
