RAIL workers on South Western Railway are to strike for 48 hours this November in a dispute over the role of guards and the driver-only operation of trains.

Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members on South Western Railway have been instructed not to book on for any shifts between 00.01 hours on Wednesday, November 8 and 23.59 hours on Thursday, November 9.

RMT members on Southern, Greater Anglia and Island Line will also strike for 48 hours from November 8, and those on Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North for 24 hours on the same date.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Every single effort that RMT has made to reach negotiated settlements in these separate disputes with the different train operating companies over safe operation and safe staffing has been kicked back in our faces and we are left with no option but to confirm a further phase of industrial action in early November.

“It is frankly ludicrous that we have been able to negotiate long-term arrangements in Scotland and Wales that protect the guards and passenger safety but we are being denied the same opportunities with rail companies in England. This suspension of normal industrial relations by the employers has to end if we are to make progress towards a solution that guarantees safe rail travel for all.

“RMT is in no doubt that it is the dead hand of the minority Tory Government that is interfering in these disputes to block negotiated settlements. It is outrageous that Theresa May and Chris Grayling are happy to stand aside and cheer on overseas rail companies that rip-off the British passenger to subsidise their domestic transport operations while throwing the guards off our trains.

“RMT is demanding today that the Government lift the central blockade on talks, allow us to negotiate freely with their contractors and give us the opportunity to pursue the objective of a guard guarantee that puts British passenger safety before the rank exploitation of our rail network by overseas operators who are laughing all the way to the bank.

“RMT stands ready for talks in each of these separate disputes.”