Rail union RMT has confirmed that a total of 27 days of strike action will take place in December on South Western Railway.

According to a statement released earlier today it comes 'after the company dangled a potential breakthrough deal in front of the union and then failed to honour it, offering no reasons for the delay.'

It states: "The company's unremitting failure to give assurances that their new operational model won't move to Driver Controlled Operation – with the role of the guard butchered completely – means the union has been left with no alternative but to call further industrial action."

As a result of this RMT members have instructed Guards, Commercial Guards and Driver members to take the following strike action:

Not to book on for duty from 00:01 on Monday 2 December 2019 until 23:59 on Wednesday 11 December.

Not to book on for duty from 00:01 on Friday 13 December until 23:59 on Tuesday 24 December 2019.

Not to book on duty from 00:01 on Friday 27 December 2019 until 23:59 on 1 January 2020.