UNION members will go on strike for the 29th time today in the long-running row over staffing and the role of conductors.

Members of the RMT, the conductors’ union, will walk out after talks broke down with Govia Thameslink, Southern’s parent company.

It comes as leaders of the drivers’ union Aslef met with the rail company at a secret location in a bid to head off further strikes by its members.

Southern said it will run as many trains as possible despite the “pointless” strike.

Members of the RMT and Aslef on parts of London Underground will also strike from 9pm tonight in a row over the displacement of staff, leading to disruption on the Central, Waterloo and City lines.

There will be no services today on the Waterloo and City lines, used by workers in the City of London, and limited Central line services.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT negotiators have made strenuous efforts to resolve this dispute but the door has been slammed in our faces.

“The action goes ahead tonight and the impact will be severe and widespread and the blame for that lies firmly at the door of an intransigent LU management that refuses to see sense.”

Central Line operations director Peter McNaught said the Underground strike was unnecessary, adding: “We have made reasonable efforts to resolve this dispute through talking through the issues.”