CUSTOMERS will face further strikes this summer in the worsening dispute over jobs, pay and conditions for rail workers in the UK.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 14 train operators will walk out on August 18 and August 20.

The union previously announced a strike for July 27, the day before the Commonwealth Games opened in Birmingham.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The rail industry and the Government need to understand that this dispute will not simply vanish.

“They need to get serious about providing an offer on pay which helps deal with the cost-of-living crisis, job security for our members and provides good conditions at work.

“Recent proposals from Network Rail fell well short on pay and on safety around maintenance work.

“And the train operating companies have not even made us a pay offer in recent negotiations.

“Now Grant Shapps (Transport Secretary) has abandoned his forlorn hopes for the job of prime minister, he can now get back to his day job and help sort this mess out.

“We remain open for talks, but we will continue our campaign until we reach a negotiated settlement.”

The companies preparing to strike on Saturday, August 13 are:

Avanti West Coast - LNER - Cross Country - Greater Anglia - Great Western Railway - Hull Trains - London Overground - London Northwestern Railway - Southeastern - West Midlands Railway.

The companies preparing for strikes on August 18 and 20 are:

Network Rail - Transpennine Express - Avanti West Coast - LNER - Chiltern Railways - Cross Country Trains - Greater Anglia - East Midlands Railway - C2c - Great Western Railway - Northern Trains - South Eastern - South Western Railway - West Midlands Trains - GTR.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “As the Secretary of State said only yesterday, recent talks have merely been for show while the RMT have been planning how best to create further misery for passengers across the UK.

"These strikes will be a kick in the teeth for millions of people who stumped up £600 per household to keep the railway running throughout the pandemic."