Fed-up Southern passengers tried to charter their own train after suffering almost a year of delays, cancellations and chaos.

Workers started striking in April over plans to replace conductors with “on-board supervisors”, a move union RMT deemed dangerous.

Guards and drivers have walked out numerous times since, including today, causing disruption for thousands of commuters, and plans to reduce staff at some stations added to the problems.

Strikes affect routes from Tonbridge to London and between Ashford International and Eastbourne.

Passengers have been looking into chartering a train to run from Redhill, Surrey, into London, which is part of the route passengers from Tonbridge travel on.

Sara Pont is on the committee for the Reigate, Redhill and District Rail Users’ Association, which met with the Train Chartering Company (TCC) in a bid to end commuters’ suffering.

She said: “I didn’t even know it was possible to charter a train but one of the committee members found out about it.

"It would have cost a bit more than a normal ticket, about £50 per person, and we would only have been insured to sell seated tickets not standing ones, but it would have been a stress-free way of getting to London and back.

“Passengers are at the end of their tethers. People are quitting jobs because they can’t get to work. They’re not seeing their children because they get home so late. It’s every single day. It grinds you down.”

TCC seemed keen but was unable to find drivers or get rolling stock from Southern’s owners Govia Thameslink Railway.

Mrs Pont continued: “We were really hoping we could make this work. It’s very frustrating.”

The group is now looking for alternative solutions such as chartering a coach.

This week Southern warned passengers not to attempt to travel on its network as all service are cancelled today, tomorrow and Friday.

RMT has asked the Office of Road and Rail to investigate claims Southern cancelled 90% of south coast services over the weekend due to “staff shortages” when there were train crew available.

A return from Redhill to London Victoria costs about £21.20 depending on the time.