RAIL passengers could face travel chaos next month as South Western Railway staff succumb to union pressure to strike, in an escalating dispute over the role of guards and driver-only operated trains.

Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members on South Western Railway look set to strike for 48 hours, having been instructed not to book on for any shifts between 00.01 hours on Wednesday, November 8, and 23.59 hours on Thursday, November 9.

The will join RMT colleagues on Southern, Greater Anglia and Island Line who will also strike for 48 hours from November 8, and those on Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North who will down tools for 24 hours on the same day.

While First MTR, as the new South Western Railway franchise holder, has continually stressed its intention to retain a second person on all its services, “as we know that our passengers value the assurance and assistance a second member of on-board staff provides”, RMT is arguing that the company has “failed to give clear, cast-iron assurances” over the future of guards on South Western Railway trains.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Every single effort that RMT has made to reach negotiated settlements in these separate disputes with the different train-operating companies over safe operation and safe staffing has been kicked back in our faces and we are left with no option but to confirm a further phase of industrial action in early November.

“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. This suspension of normal industrial relations by the employers has to end if we are to make progress toward a solution that guarantees safe rail travel for all.”

Commenting on the situation, Alton Line Users’ Association chairman David Jones was bemused.

“There are no trains running on South Western Railway without guards at the present time, and the Alton Line Users’ Association has been advised by South Western Railway that this will not change.”

Alton Line Users’ Association, he said, could not support RMT strike action, which would disrupt the lives of commuters “for something that may or may not happen”.

And he added: “If South Western Railway decides in the future to alter the manning on board trains, we will make our position clear at the time.”

In the meantime, Alton Line Users’ Association has welcomed the consultation into South Western Railway’s new timetable, which indicates “some major changes” to trains services from December 2018.

Responding to proposals for the Alton line, Alton Line Users’ Association believes “passengers will certainly notice the difference in journey time” with the introduction of faster off-peak services to and from Alton.

In a statement, Alton Line Users’ Association secretary John Eddleston said: “Ever since the Alton/London off-peak services were slowed down to allow for an additional stop at West Byfleet, Alton Line Users’ Association has been campaigning to speed up the train service on our line. Passengers have had to wait several years until the new operator South Western Railway took over, but Alton Line Users’ Association’s campaign has finally paid off.”

And he added: “Faster services are not the only improvement, in future nearly all off-peak trains will stop at Clapham Junction rather than every other train to and from Alton.

“Commuters will also benefit from an earlier first train to London departing Farnham at 5.23am. Even Alton commuters will be able to get to London 10 minutes earlier. And at the end of the day there will be a later direct train back from London.”

In addition, passengers will benefit from the introduction on weekdays of a half-hourly direct service from Farnham to Guildford, saving a change of trains at Aldershot and the possibility of missing the connection. The only downside is that there will be a longer connection for passengers wishing to travel onward to Alton.

“If the track to Alton had not been singled some years ago it would have been possible for these trains to continue to Alton. This would appear unfortunate but unavoidable, but it does strengthen the case for redoubling the track,” said Mr Eddleston.

While Saturday trains are expected to follow the off-peak pattern, Alton Line Users’ Association has asked South Western Railway for the proposed Sunday timetable, to make sure that there will be acceptable connections from the hourly Guildford/Farnham to and from Alton.

Mr Eddleston said: “Alton Line Users’ Association would have liked the Sunday service also to have been speeded up and with an earlier service to London as the journey is currently painfully slow; unfortunately we believe there have been no significant changes.”

One oddity in the timetable that the line users’ association has asked to be reconsidered is that the last departure of the day from Woking to Alton would appear only to allow passengers to board at Woking but not at the intermediate stations Brookwood, Ash Vale, Aldershot and Farnham.