TWO more strikes have been announced as rail workers continue their fight to keep guards on trains.

The RMT union have today (9) announced a further 48 hours of strike action on Northern Rail over "attacks" on the role of the guard and the proposed extension of Driver Only Operation.

The latest strikes will be held all day on Monday March 26 and Thursday March 29.

RMT general secretary Mike Cash said: "Every single effort that RMT has made to reach a negotiated settlement with Northern Rail over the safe operation and safe staffing has been kicked back in our faces. No one should be in any doubt, this dispute is 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.

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

The union has demanded talks with Northern, as well as the Department for Transport, in a bid to reach a solution.

Richard Allan, Northern's deputy managing director said: "We urge RMT to move away from its nationally co-ordinated campaign and allow its local representatives to engage in meaningful discussions with us on how we better serve customers on-board.

"We are still prepared to offer unprecedented guarantees of jobs and pay reviews until the end of our franchise in 2025, with the Government guaranteeing jobs beyond that if RMT ends strike action.

"RMT has also rejected our request to hold a fresh ballot despite one in five conductors having started in the role since the RMT dispute started, and have therefore never had a vote.

"We are now concentrating our efforts on running as many services as possible for customers on 26 and 29 March."

A spokesperson from the Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The RMT has announced more needless strikes on Northern. We urge the trade union to return to talks and avoid further disruption for passengers.

“Staff at Northern have had their jobs and pay guaranteed for the next eight years. And the independent rail regulator has already been clear that driver-controlled trains, which have been used in this country for thirty years, are safe.”

“Northern is in the early stages of a process to deliver much needed modernisation to the network which passengers have asked for; there will be new trains on the network and 2,000 extra services each week by 2020. We urge the trade union to work with the operator to deliver this new improved service for passengers.”