WORKERS at Northern are striking again as part of a long-running row over the role of guards.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Arriva Rail North (Northern) will walk out for 24 hours today, and again on Thursday.

Workers at two other rail companies are going on strike or taking other forms of industrial action this week in separate disputes, threatening travel disruption.

RMT members on South Western Railway (SWR) will refuse to work rest days over the four day Easter weekend, starting on Good Friday, accusing the company of refusing to engage with the union.

Meanwhile, talks will be held on Monday to try to avert a 48-hour stoppage by RMT members on London's Docklands Light Railway (DLR) over claims of a "comprehensive breakdown" in industrial relations.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Every single effort that RMT has made to reach a negotiated settlement with Northern Rail over 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.

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

Arriva said most of its services will run between 7am and 7pm, although the number of trains will be reduced, and those that do run will be busier than normal.

The company says it wants to hold constructive discussions with the union about introducing driver controlled trains on parts of its network.

RMT members on the DLR are due to strike for 48 hours from 4am on Wednesday and for four days from April 20, hitting the London Marathon on April 22.

Talks will be held at the conciliation service Acas on Monday to try to avert the strike, which would cause huge disruption to commuters and other passengers.