RAIL workers in the north and south of England will be striking over rail safety this weekend.

Members of rail union RMT on Arriva Rail North (ARN) and South Western Railway (SWR) services will be taking action over the refusal of management to engage in serious negotiations with their union.

They claim that the companies have “made a mockery” out of attempts to solve the dispute, which is about the company axing the role of a safety-critical guard on services.

This is related to the implementation of driver-only operations on these franchises, which the union has strongly opposed since their announcement in 2016.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The pig-headed refusal of both ARN and SWR to face up to their safety obligations is criminally irresponsible.

“It is a national scandal that while other train operators have been prepared to engage seriously with RMT on the crucial issue of a guaranteed second safety-critical member of staff on their services, ARN and SWR have dragged their heels and made a mockery of the talks process to the point now where they refuse point blank to engage in any meaningful negotiations at all.

“It is crystal clear that the axing of guards is a cash-driven exercise aimed at shoring up profits on these rail franchises regardless of the public consequences. ‎

“It’s time for both these companies to get out of the bunker and start talking seriously and positively with the union.”

The RMT has clarified that it is still open to serious negotiations.