A TWO day rail strike next week will mean passengers from Weymouth and Dorchester will have to get on a bus for part of their journey.

The RMT says its members working for Weymouth-Waterloo operator South Western Railway will strike on Wednesday, November 8 and Thursday, November 9 due to an ongoing dispute about the role of guards on trains.

Announcing a contingency timetable, South Western Railway says it will run more than 60 per cent of services on the strike days.

But there will be no train services between Weymouth and Poole. A bus replacement service will operate instead. There will be a reduced train service between Poole and London Waterloo.

Andy Mellors, Managing Director for South Western Railway, said: “We plan to run around two thirds of our regular timetabled services which will deliver around 70 per cent of the seats we normally provide across the morning and evening peak hours in to London.

“However, we are sorry that many of our passengers will find trains much busier than normal and that, in some places, replacement bus services will run instead of trains on the strike date called by the RMT.

“This strike is unnecessary. We have repeatedly assured the RMT that we plan to keep two safety-trained employees on our trains. This is because we know that a second member of staff provides assurance to our passengers and ensures we have capable colleagues on board to deliver assistance or offer advice during journeys.

“No one will lose their job. We have been very clear that we are guaranteeing the jobs, salaries and terms and conditions of guards. In fact, as we expand our fleet, we will be hiring more drivers and guards to help deliver more and better services for passengers.”

The RMT has instructed members on Southern, Greater Anglia, South Western Railways and Island Line to take action.

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 towards a solution that guarantees safe rail travel for all."

Further details on the timetable and rail replacement bus services can be found at southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/rmt-strike