Southern Railway workers to strike over Christmas and New Year

Southern Railway workers will stage strikes over Christmas and the New Year as part of a long-running dispute over the role of conductors.

The strikes will be held from 0001 GMT on 22 December until 2359 on Christmas Eve and again from 0001 GMT on New Year's Eve until 2359 on 2 January, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced.

Another 48-hour strike is due to start at 0001 on Friday.

The strike is over conductors no longer controlling the opening and closing of doors due to the new rolling stock having an automated system.

The RMT said the changes put conductors at a greater risk of redundancy and devalues their role but Southern Rail has insisted it will free up staff to assist passengers, particularly disabled travellers.