A psychiatrist today told how she may be forced to quit her job because of the “horrendous” daily commute triggered by the Southern Rail strike.
Mother of two Katerina Reid, 40, from Clapham, took a job with a mental health team in Watford partly because of the apparently simple 40 minute door to door journey from Clapham Junction station.
But the strike over driver-only trains has left her with a two hour journey - which has left her struggling to get home to spend any time with her children aged three and seven.
She told the Standard: “It’s been a nightmare. What should have been a 40 minute journey has become ridiculous. I have to get across London to take a service from Euston but those trains are becoming too packed because of the knock on effect of the rail strike.
“I may have to leave my job. I don’t want to but it’s getting to that point. I took the job partly because of the easy commute. I am struggling to get home to see my children in the evening even though I start work in the morning. I blame the strikers and the rail management. The Southern Rail management have failed to react effectively to the strike. It is horrendous.”
The mental health specialist said the cost of her commute was also rocketing.
She added: “I am paying double, it’s an unacceptable situation.”
She today took a Gatwick Express Train to the airport as the family headed off for a break to the Canary Islands. She said it was the first time she had taken a train that was on time for months.
There were long queues for services for the Gatwick Express as travellers jetted off for festive breaks but no serious delays were reported.
