“However, I do completely accept your point that this will be of no comfort to those who have been directly affected by the temporary changes we have made.”
Ms Pidgeon told the rail boss of her “extreme disappointment and huge frustration” over the timetable. She described Southern’s performance in recent months as “appalling.”
She cited the situation at East Dulwich, her local station which used to have 13 trains before 9.30 am but “now we have three.”
The Lib-Dem leader said the decision to reduce the number of trains on the grounds that those which did run would be more reliable was an “act of desperation which fails to address the underlying reasons of why your current (full) service cannot be maintained to a reasonable level.
“Your service has also impacted and caused economic harm for many London businesses as well.”
Talks between the the RMT and Southern are due to take place at Acas, the conciliation service.
The union has ordered five consecutive days of strikes from Monday, August 8 until the following Friday inclusive.
Talks are scheduled to last all daytomorrow and Thursday but the two sides remain poles apart with no deal in sight.
Southern said it will begin introducing changes to the role of conductors from Sunday 21 August.
