A fresh strike by rail workers in Cumbria and colleagues across the north of England is being held today in the long-running dispute over the role of guards, causing more disruption for passengers.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) working for Norther (Arriva Rail North) as well as three other operatore - South Western Railway (SWR), Merseyrail and Greater Anglia - will walk out for 24 hours following action on Monday, with another stoppage due on Friday.

Picket lines will be mounted outside railway stations affected by the strike, and passengers face delays, cancellations and replacement buses in some parts of the country.

Northern said it would run around 1,350 services on strike days, more than half its normal timetable, with most between 7am and 7pm.

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The firm is responsible for running many of Cumbria's rail services, including the coastal line between Carlisle and Barrow and routes between Carlisle, Hexham and Newcastle.

The RMT said it had not received a response from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to its call for a summit involving his department and the train companies aimed at resolving the disputes, similar to agreements reached in Wales and Scotland.

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 press ahead with the action exactly as planned.

"No one should be in any doubt, these disputes are about putting the safety of the travelling public before the profits of the private train companies

"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."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "This is a dispute between a private company and the RMT.

"However, the Transport Secretary recognises the disruption caused to passengers and has met with union leaders on several occasions, including as recently as December, to help bring an end to the strikes.

"He offered guarantees of employment to members who currently fulfil the role of the second person on the train beyond the length of the franchises - instead the RMT called strikes on five train companies to cause maximum disruption to passengers.

"Nobody is losing their job as a result of driver-controlled operation trains - employees have been guaranteed jobs and salaries for several years."