INDUSTRIAL action is set to take place on the county's rails yet again as the bitter dispute between the RMT trade union and Northern continues.

A date of March 3 has been set for the next walkout which could see services which connect Furness, Carlisle, Whitehaven and the Lake District at a standstill.

The long-running dispute over proposed changes to the role of the conductor has already seen a number of strikes take place throughout 2017- 18 and has gathered a lot of support across South Cumbria from rail users.

If the proposed action goes ahead it will see Northern operate a significantly reduced service with only around 50 per cent of trains running.

Speaking about the action, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Every single effort that RMT has made to reach negotiated settlements in these separate disputes with Northern and Merseyrail over safe operation and safe staffing has been kicked back in our faces.

"No-one should be in any doubt - these disputes are about putting the safety of the travelling public before the profits of the private train companies

"It is, frankly, ludicrous that we have been able to negotiate long-term arrangements in Scotland and Wales that protect the guards and passenger safety but we are being denied the same opportunities with rail companies in England.

"Prime Minister Theresa May and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling are happy to stand aside and cheer on overseas rail companies that rip off the British passenger with eye-watering fare increases to subsidise their domestic transport operations while throwing the guards off our trains.

"If it's good enough for Wales and Scotland to put safety first, then it's good enough for the rest of the UK."

A statement on Northern's website said: "We are unable to predict how long RMT’s dispute will last.

"We have again proposed to RMT that they set aside what appears to be a co-ordinated campaign in return for assurances over jobs and pay, and exploring with us what future roles will look like.

"We are frustrated at the lack of progress in talks as business and communities are behind our modernisation and investment plans and we want RMT to back this too."