TALKS will take place today in an attempt to avert yet more strike action on Northern rail services.

Disgruntled passengers face more disruption next Wednesday when RMT members are due to walk out for 24 hours.

The dispute, which the RMT says is over a threat to the position of guards as well as safety, began earlier this year and has shown no signs of being resolved to date.

Northern plans to run more than 1,300 services on Wednesday should the strike go ahead, about 65 per cent of its normal weekly timetable, and will concentrate its efforts between 7am and 7pm.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash struck a conciliatory note in his latest statement.

He said: “RMT has made it clear that if we are given the opportunity we can negotiate arrangements that protect the role and position of the guard and the safety of the travelling public on our trains just as we have in both Wales and Scotland.

“RMT will be taking part in what we expect to be genuine and meaningful talks.

“Assuming there is no external influencing of the process, there is no reason why we can’t reach a solution based on the principle of a guard on their services.

“We know that the travelling public want the Northern Rail dispute resolved in a way that puts safety on the railway before private profit.

“As we have seen in both Wales and Scotland, a negotiated settlement on that basis is wholly achievable.”

Northern is introducing driver-only trains as part of its modernisation plans with 98 new trains coming on stream by 2020.

It sees guards playing more of a customer facing role at stations, which the RMT says could leave some trains without a crucial safety presence.

The company says it is prepared to guarantee jobs and pay for those affected for the next eight years if agreement can be reached on how staff deliver better customer service in the future.

Richard Allan, Northern’s deputy managing director, said: “We are pleased to be getting around the table again with RMT on Friday to try to find a resolution to their ongoing dispute and are hopeful of meaningful talks.”

Middlesbrough MP and Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said: “I am pleased to hear that the parties are speaking, hopefully directly, because that is the only way that progress can be made.

“I remain very concerned about the potential for accidents and other incidents occurring in the absence of a safety critical second member of crew and issues also remain over disabled access.

“I look forward to positive developments.”

RMT strike action is also taking place on Merseyrail, Southern, Greater Anglia and South Western train services on Wednesday.