10:38

Here’s some responses to the Guardian’s callout to those affected by the strike.

Gary from Walton-on-Thames said he had to call work to explain he cannot get in:

“Not only is SWR on strike today but they have also decided to reduce the number of carriages on their trains! I stood outside with the temperature at -2 degrees this morning for almost an hour and both trains that were due to arrive were late and had reduced carriages. People couldn’t get on the train (including myself). I have now had to call my work and explain that I cannot get in. This is a disgrace. The government needs to step in to do something about this. I’m sick of it.”

Kate, who works in the City and travels from Winchester, said she feels the strikes are following her:

“Over half of the trains to and from Winchester are cancelled and whilst I have a very understanding boss and can work from home, I prefer to work from the office. I moved to Winchester three years ago after being on the Southern Railway route for many years and subjected to their strikes for the same reason – guards on trains. I feel the strikes are following me! I agree with having a guard on every train, without question. What is frustrating for this strike is that both sides seem to be strongly disagreeing with each other and so no-one quite know what the actual issue is.”

Michael Aaronson, 70, a freelance consultant from Wanborough says he and other passengers feel abandoned:

“I normally travel to London Waterloo. There are no trains and no replacement bus services from our station for the duration of the strike, so I and my fellow passengers from Wanborough are effectively abandoned by SWR for the whole of December. What makes this doubly absurd is that Great Western Railway (GWR), also runs trains through our station but hardly any of them stop here. So we are all thrown back to using our cars, adding yet more pressure to the congested roads around Guildford.”