FRESH strikes are due to affect services in the Basingstoke area this week.

Starting from tomorrow, members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) will be on strike for the rest of the working week, starting tomorrow on Tuesday, 18 June until Friday, 21 June.

There will be a reduced number of services running through Basingstoke during the period of strike action.

The action will be taking place over the course of the horse racing at Royal Ascot.

A South Western Railway spokesperson said: "It’s very disappointing that despite having had dates in the diary for what we hoped would be further constructive talks, the RMT union decided to call disruptive strike action over the course of five days.

"Only this week, we met with the union and agreed to arrange new dates to get around the table and continue those talks. However, they seem insistent on going ahead with their unnecessary strike next week which will impact our customers and colleagues alike.

"Clearly, they have decided to target popular events such as Royal Ascot with this cynical action which is driven by internal RMT politics.

"The RMT has always said it wanted us to keep the guard on every train which is what we have offered as part of a framework agreement.

"We want to move the conversation on to how we operate our new trains and take advantage of the new technology on board to benefit our customers. We remain committed to finding a solution that will help us build a better railway for everyone.

"We will do everything we can to keep customers moving during these strikes but would like to apologise for the disruption this unnecessary action will cause.

"Passengers are strongly advised to plan their travel in advance as services are likely to be busier than usual because of the strike action. Rail replacement services and ticket acceptance on other bus and rail networks have been organised where possible, whilst fans attending events at Twickenham, Hampton Court, Royal Ascot, and elsewhere, are advised to allow extra time for their travel.

"Customers will be able to see amendments to their train services, as currently published on our website, in journey planning systems from tomorrow.

"Further information on additional main line peak-time services - over and above the amended timetable - will be announced in due course."

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Our members have been left with no choice but to go ahead with strike action tomorrow.

"They are angry and frustrated that despite suspending action in good faith, and entering into talks in a positive and constructive manner, South Western Railway have dragged their heels and failed to bolt down an agreement that matches up to our expectations on the guard guarantee.

“Worse than that, the company have refused to give assurances on the future operational role of the guard fuelling fears amongst our members of a stitch up.

"That situation has been compounded by an insistence that future operational models will be governed by the protection of company profits and not the safety of the travelling public.

“For more than three months we have sought to negotiate a conclusion to this dispute and it is wholly down to the management side that the core issue of the safety critical competencies and the role of the guard has not been signed off.

"It is because of that crucial failure by SWR that we have had no option but to lift the suspension and move back into strike action.”