WORKERS on some of the busiest rail services in the country are to strike on the Saturday before Christmas in the long-running dispute over guards on trains.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on South Western Railway (SWR) will walk out on December 22, causing travel misery for thousands planning to travel home for Christmas that weekend.

The company, which has been hit by a series of delays in recent weeks because of signal and train failures, runs services into London Waterloo, the busiest station in the UK.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash (pictured) said: “South Western Railway continues to refuse to resolving this dispute, which is about safety, security and access while the company look to open up a loophole that would allow them to run driver-only services at their discretion.

“Recent figures have shown a shocking a surge in violence on our railways. It is frankly appalling that South Western Railway are looking for a green light to throw the guard off their trains as and when they see fit in the name of profit.

“SWR might think it’s acceptable to play fast and loose with passenger safety, security and access but RMT members, who have stood firm throughout this dispute despite appalling harassment from the company, will not accept a dilution of the safety regime on the railway.”

RMT members on Arriva Rail North are striking for 24 hours on every Saturday for the rest of the year in the same dispute.

An SWR spokesman said: “By targeting the last Saturday before Christmas when people are trying to travel to be with family and friends the RMT is ensuring the maximum misery is inflicted at what should be a time of relaxation and enjoyment.

“This action is totally unnecessary. We have guaranteed to roster a guard on every train, and we need more, not fewer guards – 70 more by May 2019 – and we have an opportunity with the introduction of the new suburban trains to operate these trains differently to maximise the customer benefits.

“The RMT is scaremongering by using crime in its statement. The number of crimes on the SWR network has reduced by nearly six per cent since April. SWR’s team of 35 Rail Community Officers work on trains and at stations to prevent and detect crimes.

“Should this action go ahead, we will do everything we can to provide the best service possible for our customers.”