RMT action will affect trains to and from London Waterloo from 16 to 19 February

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Rail workers are to take further industrial action over the role of train guards later this month.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on South Western Railway will refuse to work any rest days from 16 to 19 February.

The company, which runs services to and from the UK’s busiest station, London Waterloo, is one of five operators involved in long-running rows over staffing which have led to a series of strikes stretching back almost two years.

Mick Cash, the general secretary of the RMT, said: “It is frankly disgraceful that South Western Railway point-blank refuse to engage with the union in meaningful talks over their plans to run trains without a safety-critical guard on board across this franchise.”

He added: “We know that this action will have a serious impact on services and the responsibility for the disruption caused will be wholly down to South Western Railway and their pig-headed attitude. It is time for the company to get out of the bunker and start talking.”

Southern, Merseyrail, Greater Anglia and Arriva Rail North are also in dispute with the RMT over guards.

A spokesman for South Western Railway said: “We will do everything we can to minimise the inconvenience to our passengers from this unnecessary action.”