BUSINESS experts have warned of the devastating impact on the economy as commuters endured the first day of the week-long rail strike.

There was silence once again from the Transport Secretary and Rail Minister as thousands of passengers stayed at home to avoid the chaos.

However, instead of crowded stations this led to deserted platforms and trains with taxi services reporting record trade.

Business leaders and MPs warned about the impact on the economy with Brighton and Hove Albion chief executive Martin Perry stating the club would lose £300,000 as a result of the industrial action.

In a letter to the city's three MPs, he said the losses would come as a result of lost gates receipts and the additional costs of providing extra buses, parking and stewarding for two home games this week.

He wrote: “The impact of the strike and the disruption to travel services and the ticket sales is huge.

“What is the total impact across businesses over the south east of England not only over the period of the strike but over the period that we have suffered a reduction in service levels and the disruption to train timetables?

"It must run into millions of pounds lost to the local economy.”

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove, called the figures eye-watering, adding: “I'm glad that the Albion are also reminding us of the devastating impact the rail dispute is having on businesses in the city.”

Brighton and Hove business leaders spoke of their fears for the economy yesterday, especially the impact on tourism.

Adam Chinnery, from the Seafront Traders’ Association, said: “It’s going to dramatically affect the movement of tourists from London down to Brighton - especially during the summer holidays.

“You only get eight weeks of summer holidays so to lose a whole week, I’m very concerned especially because this is the first time the weather has been good.”

Gavin Stewart, executive director of Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said: “There are 35,000 outbound commutes every day to Brighton and 32,000 inbound.

“A lot of those people might spend £5 on lunch or on a cab so however many are staying at home that makes a big dent in the economy.”

The five day strike is over the long-running driver-only trains dispute which was triggered by 306 conductors who voted in favour of industrial action. This represented 77 per cent of the 393 members who were balloted.

Across the network Southern has 4,000 employees across all roles.

By yesterday’s evening rush hour, Southern reported that more than 88 per cent of scheduled trains were running on time.

RAIL TRAVELLERS FINALLY GIVE UP ON NETWORKS

THE sunlight streaming down to the floor of Brighton Station, where usually it would illuminate the determined faces of packed crowds at 7.30am, shone its light on the day weary commuters finally gave up on the trains.

The photograph shows just how those who braved a Southern service depleted to 60 per cent of normal provision found themselves sitting in peace on under capacity trains and walking through quiet stations.

But those like Julia Mans who took the trip seemed to be in a minority, with untold thousands steering clear of a network brought to its knees by months of unrest.

Julia, from Brighton, told The Argus: “The trains were lovely. They were empty, they were on time. There was hardly anyone on them.

“I get the 10.02 which usually doesn’t get into London until 11.20 but today it got in on time at 11.05 which never usually happens – so I was on time for work.

“It’s a million times better during the strike than before it.”

Meanwhile charity worker Kim Walker who usually commutes to the capital from Portslade, explained: “I looked at my train app at 6.30am and learned the next train to get to London Bridge from Portslade wasn’t until about 8am so I thought: ‘There’s no way I’ll get to work on time.’”

Kim worked from home yesterday and said that while that was possible in her position, some things – like manually signing cheques and contracts – would be delayed while she was stuck in Sussex.

“I’ve got contractors who will have to wait an extra week to get paid as a result of the strike.”

She added: “I’m going to try to keep out of it this week because you have to leave London so early.

“I’d only have about two or three hours there before I needed to start thinking about getting a train back, so it’s not worth it.”

Business owner Tony Gimple, 57, has put his hand in his pocket in order to maintain contracts while avoiding the rail network.

The Seaford-based boss of financial services company Less Tax For Landlords explained: “I had to drive to London, and now I’m staying in London for the whole week. I’m paying for a hotel and I’m paying to put up staff as well.

“I’ve yet to get the final bill but it’s going to cost around £5,000. Because of my firm’s commitments and because my staff live near where I do, we’ve had to put everyone up in London otherwise we cannot fulfil our commitments to our clients.

“It’s a personal service so you have to do it face to face so we’ve had to do this – unlike Southern and the unions we will lose customers. We’ll suffer in money and reputation.”

He is paying for himself and four staff to stay in a budget hotel in central London but is nonetheless paying £140 per room per night, plus the cost of providing three meals a day for his team.

The 57-year-old added: “I would happily send an invoice to the Department for Transport and the Union and if I had the funds I’d take them to court for it. Breach of contract comes to mind.”

Yesterday it emerged that in conciliation talks at Acas last week bosses offered a guarantee to retain staffing levels beyond 2021 should Govia retain the franchise.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “This action has been forced on us by the arrogance and inaction of Govia Thameslink and the government who have made it clear that they have no interest in resolving this dispute or in tackling the daily chaos on Southern.”

COMMUTERS TRAVEL BY COACH

BOOKINGS for coach journeys covering strike-hit routes have nearly doubled as tourists and commuters take advantage of any available options to circumvent the rail disruption.

National Express revealed yesterday that passenger numbers are up 80 per cent year-on-year on routes affected by the disruption.

And the company is now seeking to convert passengers into long-term customers.

The firm has added thousands of extra seats between Brighton and London, with extra coaches running until Friday, August 12.

And today National Express staff will be at London Victoria Rail Station to offer 100 free coach journeys back home to selected travellers, and half-price travel to a further 3,000.

The National Express network covers a number of areas which are impacted by the Southern issues, including Brighton, Hastings, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bexhill and Bognor.

Journeys by road rather than rail have become the norm for some Sussex commuters with a bus service running from Seaford through to Lewes replacing as many as 85 per cent of trains.

Tom Stables, managing director of National Express UK Coach, said: “We understand how vital it is people are able to get to where they need to go – be that for work or for leisure and so we’re really pleased to play our part in keeping the south moving and crucially to supporting some of the people affected by the ongoing disruption.

“It is therefore particularly pleasing to see so many people taking advantage of the thousands of extra coach seats laid on.”