South Western Railway strikes: Commuters face fresh disruption as union announces three 24-hour walkouts in September

Commuters are set for disruption throughout September with workers on South Western Railway planning a fresh wave of strikes.

Three separate 24-hour walkouts were announced on Wednesday after the collapse of talks aimed at resolving the bitter row over the role of guards.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out on September 2, 8 and 15, on top of a strike on August 18 and a 48-hour stoppage from August 31.

The union accused the rail firm of "sabotaging" talks this week over the long-running dispute, saying SWR had "no intention" of reaching a deal.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT is angry and frustrated that the company's cavalier and contemptuous approach to talks leaves us no option but to confirm additional strike dates. We know that passengers will share that anger.

"Today SWR have benefited from a fares windfall that will pump up their profits. They have plenty of money to employ guards on their trains and to sign off the guard guarantee the union has achieved elsewhere.

"South Western Railway seem to think they can treat the union and their staff with utter contempt. They need to change that attitude, get serious and put a team in place that can talk with us with authority on the safety, security and access issues at the heart of this dispute."

South Western Railway said it was "committed" to resolving the dispute and "extremely disappointed" by the announcement of more strike action.

A spokesperson said: “The RMT executive’s answer to every question is strike - they need to start accepting that the railway is modernising and that their members can play a key part in that future if only they stop calling for action and work with us to deliver a better railway for our customers.

“This decision is totally unnecessary and pointless – we cannot make it any clearer that our plans mean more not fewer guards, we have guaranteed to roster a second person on all our trains and we have guaranteed terms and conditions.

“We will continue to do everything we can to minimise disruption to passengers while the RMT persists with these unnecessary strikes.”