SOUTH Western Railway workers are to take further industrial action this weekend in an ongoing dispute over the role of guards.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have been instructed to refuse to work any rest days from Friday, February 16, to Monday, February 19.

It comes on the back of walkouts by SWT staff in November, on New Year’s Eve, and January 8, 10 and 12 amid falling passenger numbers, above-inflation fare rises and persistent delays.

Announcing the latest strike action, RMT general secretary Mick Cash accused SWT of refusing “point-blank” to engage with the union in meaningful talks.

He said: “It is the intransigent attitude of the company which has forced us to put on this latest phase of industrial action in an effort to force them to see sense and to drive them back to the negotiating table for genuine and meaningful talks.

“We know that this action will have a serious impact on services and the responsibility for the disruption caused will be wholly down to South Western Railway and their pig-headed attitude. It is time for the company to get out of the bunker and start talking.”

Responding, a spokesman for South Western Railway said: “We will do everything we can to minimise the inconvenience to our passengers from this unnecessary action.”

Southern, Merseyrail, Greater Anglia and Arriva Rail North are also in dispute with the RMT over guards.