RAIL union RMT has confirmed a further two days of strike action will affect Northern Rail services next week.

A long-running dispute between the union and Arriva Rail North over the future role of train guards and the introduction of driver-only operation has seen members vote for further industrial action on Tuesday, October 3 and Thursday, October 5.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “We are angry and frustrated that Arriva continues to fail to face up to the facts and also continues to ignore a perfectly reasonable union proposal to invite the Department for Transport to join us in round table talks aimed at finding a solution.”

Arriva Rail North’s deputy managing director Richard Allan said: “Northern is modernising local rail with new and refurbished trains, better stations and faster journeys, and while strike action is disruptive, we remain firmly focused on delivering a better service for our customers.”