A SECOND day of strike action has been confirmed as a dispute on Merseyrail driver-only trains intensifies.

The Rail, Marine and Transport Union has confirmed a new strike date talks yesterday over the crucial issue of the future of the safety critical role of the guard broke down.

Railguards walked out for 24-hours last Monday. A second strike action will take place on Saturday, April 8 – Grand National Weekend.

The dispute relates to a new fleet of driver-only trains that will replace Merseyrail’s current 40-year-old rolling stock in 2020 and the security of guards jobs on trains.

The union is also set to step up their campaign, involving the general public and targeting politicians across the area served by Merseyrail to maximise political and public support for RMT’s fight for a guaranteed guard on the company’s services.

RMT General secretary Mick Cash said: “It is disgraceful that Merseyrail wrecked a golden opportunity to engage in serious talks with the union yesterday.

“RMT reps set out key points for discussion that could have moved the dispute forwards, Merseyrail kicked that conciliatory approach back in our faces and made it crystal clear that all that they are interested in is the union signing a surrender document which gives them a free hand to rip apart the safety culture on the railway.

“It is that cynical and hostile stance from Merseyrail which has left us with no option but to put on this additional strike action.

“RMT recognises the severe impact that the action will have on Grand National Day but we are dealing with an employer that refuses to listen or engage with the union on the critical issue of safe rail operation and we ask the public to understand that we have no option but to take this high-profile action to force the company back to the negotiating table.

“There is ample time between now and April 8 for genuine talks to take place and for a safe and sustainable deal that protects the future safety across Merseyrail services to be put in place. The company should take up that offer of further talks as a matter of urgency.

“Merseyrail are completely ignoring the clear wishes of their own passengers, who overwhelmingly oppose the idea of Driver Only Operated trains on their network.

“That pig-headed attitude has forced the union’s hand and the idea that we would compromise on the fundamental issue of rail safety is absurd.

“The ball is now firmly in Merseyrail’s court.”

Merseyrail’s managing director Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde said:"As we predicted, the RMT has sunk to a new low by inflicting their strikes on the Grand National. Damaging the company and its passengers is one thing, but damaging the whole of the Liverpool city region on one of its proudest and most important days of the year is impossible to understand.

"It cannot be right that the RMT executive, sitting in London, has taken an unnecessary decision that represents a barefaced attack on the reputation of our region.

"The Saturday of the Grand National is one of our busiest times of the year, and we will make every attempt to ensure that we successfully move around the high volumes of people who choose to travel with us that day. Timetables for the day are currently being developed and will be published very soon.

"We have put forward firm proposals about how we will look after our guards, who, subject to successful negotiations with the RMT, are being guaranteed work in the business, once the new trains are introduced in three years’ time."