Although these strikes inconvenience us, in this case I have to support the railway staff, because it is for the benefit of the travelling public that they want to retain Guards on trains - we want our Guards!!   It is the govt. who are forcing "one-man" operation onto the franchisees (rail operating companies).  We don't stand to benefit in any way.  As it is our fares and taxes which pay for the trains, there should be a passenger consultation - and I guess the answer would be that most people DO want guards - everyone I've asked on trains, has agreed with me.  Not just for opening and closing doors, but for help with information, luggage, disability, and security (dealing with anti-social behaviour), etc.    We should get the chance to put our views forward to the govt., who should stop bullying the railway companies, whom they are using as scapegoats.

Workers on South Western Railway are to strike for 27 days before the end of the year in the long-running dispute over guards on trains.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will walk out for 27 days between December 2 and New Year's Day, threatening travel chaos for commuters and Christmas shoppers.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our members have been left with no choice but to call a further 27 days of strike action on South Western Railway.

"At the last meeting we held with SWR, principles in agreements were made in good faith with the company's negotiating team and we now feel hugely let down again.

"As long as the company continues to refuse to give assurances on the future operational role of the guard, we will remain in dispute.

"I want to congratulate our members on their continued resolve in their fight for safety and the role of the guard on SWR.

"It is wholly down to the management side that the core issue of the safety critical competencies and the role of the guard has not been agreed."

RMT members will not book on for duty from 00:01 on Monday December 2 until 23:59 on Wednesday December 11, from 00:01 on Friday December 13 until 23:59 on Tuesday December 24, and from 00:01 on Friday December 27 until 23:59 on January 1.

The RMT accused the company of "dangling" a potential breakthrough deal in front of the union and then failing to honour it, offering no reasons for the delay.