A SERIES of fresh rail strikes will be launched this week in the long-running dispute over the role of guards on trains, causing more disruption to services.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will walk out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on Arriva Rail North (Northern) and for three days from Thursday on South Western Railway.

The dispute has been raging for over two years.

The union called for last-ditch talks to resolve the Northern strike, claiming that taxpayers and passengers are footing the bill for the strike because a clause in the franchise agreement says Northern Rail can be reimbursed for "net losses arising from industrial action".