WORKERS at five railway operators will strike again next month as disputes over the role of guards and driver-only operation of trains continue.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on Arriva Rail North will strike on Wednesday, November 8, after the union said it had made “every single effort” to resolve the disputes, and accused train operators of “suspending” normal industrial relations.

The union has been in dispute with Southern Rail for more than 18 months, taking more than 30 days of strike action, which spread to Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North and Greater Anglia earlier this month.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said it was “frankly ludicrous” that agreements had been made in Scotland and Wales, but talks with rail companies in England had not progressed.

He said: “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.”

Richard Allan, deputy managing director of Arriva Rail North (Northern), said the firm was preparing to roll out new services and hoped to work with the RMT.

He said: “We are prepared to guarantee jobs and pay for conductors for the next eight years if we can reach agreement on how our colleagues deliver better customer service using those fantastic new facilities.

“RMT is striking yet again at Northern and on several other train operators.

“We remain available for talks that are meaningful and clearly focused on how we deliver better customer service in the future.”