THE German federal transport minister has now been asked to intervene in the year-long dispute on Northern Rail.

After failing to strike a deal with company bosses, the RMT rail union has now written to Alexander Dobrindt seeking an urgent meeting in a bid to break the deadlock.

The Northern franchise is operated by Arriva which in turn is owned by German state owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn.

Another 24 hour strike is due to take place on Thursday (March 29) in the dispute over the future of role of guards.

Northern wants guards to become more customer-facing on platforms as it moves towards the introduction of driver-only trains, but the RMT says they play a safety critical role and should remain on board.

In a letter to Mr Dobrindt RMT general secretary Mick Cash said he could use his position to seek a solution.

He said: “The dispute over guards and public safety on Northern Rail has now been going on for over a year.

“It is ludicrous that we have been unable to make any progress in talks with the German state-owned operator Arriva, while we have been signing off agreements in Scotland and Wales that underpin the guard guarantee.

“I have written to the German Transport Minister calling for their assistance in brokering a solution that protects rail safety in northern Britain and I just hope he proves more responsive than his British counterpart.”