RMT members at Southern, Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North are to walk out on Monday in dispute about guards

Rail workers at three train operators are staging fresh strikes on Monday in disputes over the role of guards and driver-only trains. The action will disrupt travel as people return to work after the holidays and schools reopen.

Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) at Southern, Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North will walk out amid worsening industrial relations in the industry.

The Southern dispute started more than 16 months ago, with the RMT taking more than 30 days of strike action. The threat of industrial action against the industry’s newest franchise holder is also looming.

Why are British rail workers striking? Many train services have been operated by a driver and a guard, with the latter responsible for aspects of safety including closing train doors. The government has demanded train operators cut the cost of travel, while commissioning more trains that only require a driver to run. Unions fear guard jobs will be lost and drivers believe the changes have safety implications. Southern has so far kept a staff member on trains but with reduced responsibilities. Merseyrail plans to run trains without guards from 2020. Others are likely to follow suit unless, as unions hope, strikes change their minds.

RMT members on South Western Railway are to be balloted for strikes, just days after the operator took over the running of services from London Waterloo. Southern said it planned to run most services despite the strike, although there will be a number of cancellations.

The number of Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North trains will be reduced. Services at both companies will run mainly between 7am and 7pm.

Mick Cash, the general secretary of the RMT, said: “These strikes are about putting passenger safety before private profit and those who seek to undermine the safety culture on our railways in order to fill their own pockets should be called to account and forced back to the negotiating table.”

Paul Plummer, the chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies and Network Rail, said: “Britain’s railway connects communities across the country and train companies are doing all they can to keep passengers moving on the day many students return to school or college, and people are going back to work.

“Rail companies are working hard to upgrade the railway to support passengers and our economy now and for the long term, including 6,400 more services a week by 2021.”