Rail workers and RMT union members backed by Labour leader set for four fresh strikes as rail chiefs fight over axed guards and train staff

RAIL workers backed by Jeremy Corbyn are set for four fresh strikes.

The Labour leader stands accused of “egging on” militant RMT union members.

Staff at Southern, Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North and Greater Anglia are to stage two 24-hour walkouts next month in continuing disputes over the role of guards and driver-only trains.

The strikes would coincide with the closure of Liverpool Lime Street station for refurbishment and could hit the Tory party conference in Manchester.

The 18-month Southern dispute has caused misery for 300,000 commuters. RMT boss Mick Cash blamed Transport Secretary Chris Grayling for scuppering talks.

He said: “This fiasco cannot be allowed to drag on any longer.”

Mr Cash also accused Arriva Rail North bosses of intransigence and slammed Merseyrail as cynical and hostile.

Merseyrail’s Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde said: “Don’t they want Liverpool to succeed?”

Richard Allan, of Arriva Rail North, said: “We are disappointed the union has called further action.”

Nick Brown, chief of Southern’s parent company Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “We are disappointed by this unnecessary action.”

Richard Dean, of Greater Anglia, said: “We’re keen to avert industrial action.”