Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will go ahead with strike action next week following claims they were ‘excluded’ from talks with Southern.

Drivers and guards are set to walk out on Monday, January 23, in the latest in a long-running dispute with the rail franchise over passenger safety.

The union demanded a seat at the negotiating table where Aslef and Southern are discussing a possible end to their dispute.

Train drivers’ union, Aslef, suspended their strike action on Tuesday, January 24, Wednesday, January 25, and Friday, January 27 pending talks set up by the Government and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: “RMT demands again today that this union be given access to exactly the same talks process in our Southern Rail disputes as has been brokered for our sister union by the TUC.

"We would remind all parties that not only is RMT a recognised drivers’ union on Southern but that it is also our guards, members who have made huge personal sacrifices in the long fight for passenger safety.

“The notion that some sort of deal can be done which leaves those Southern guards out in the cold is ludicrous.

"As a result of our exclusion from the talks process set up by the TUC and the Government both our guards and drivers action remains on next week and we demand and expect a positive response to our fresh demand for a seat at the negotiating table."

A Southern spokesman said: "The talks that are now taking place under the auspices of the TUC are as a result of a suggestion by ASLEF, which we welcomed and accepted in order to find a way to end their drivers’ dispute.

“As we have stated, we are happy to have formal talks with the RMT too when they’re ready to do so, and lines of communication with them are open. In the meantime, to show good faith, we would ask them to follow ASLEF’s lead and suspend their one-day conductors' strike planned for next Monday.”