A FRESH row flared on Southern Rail yesterday with union leaders accusing the failing franchise of planning to strip staff of their safety licences.

Rail union RMT said workers now classed as on-board supervisors had received a letter saying their safety licence and certification was being withdrawn.

Safety is at the heart of a long-running dispute between the union and the train operator that has led to a series of strikes, causing chaos for hundreds of thousands of passengers.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said staff were “shocked and distressed” at the firm’s letter.

He said: “Many of these staff have 30-plus years’ service with the railway and I believe this move is designed to undermine the confidence of these staff and is leading to them experiencing demoralisation and humiliation.”

A Southern spokesman said: “The conductors in question stopped dispatching trains on January 1, so they no longer need to hold those licences and our new onboard supervisors are not required to maintain them.

“This is yet another attempt at mischief-making by the RMT.”