THE leader of Britain’s biggest rail union was barred from joining talks aimed at heading off more strikes on Southern Rail yesterday.

Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary Mick Cash arrived at the conciliation service Acas alongside Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef.

The meeting was aimed at resolving a bitter dispute over driver-only trains which led to a second day of strikes yesterday.