A TWO-day rail strike has been labelled “disappointing” as it coincides with the 23-day closure of Liverpool Lime Street station for upgrades.

The upgrade work from September 30, will fall on the same date as a planned strike on October 3 and 5.

The RMT union, which supports transport employees, confirmed the strike action today, sparked by plans by Arriva Rail North cutting guards due to new driver-only trains.

The union said it was angry and frustrated that the company has blocked any chance of making progress in talks.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Yet again we have been confronted with the sheer intransigence of Arriva Rail North and that means that we have no option but to confirm a further round of strike action.

“The responsibility for the inevitable disruption lies wholly with the company. We are angry and frustrated that Arriva continue to fail to face up to the facts.

“The public, who support RMT’s campaign for a guarantee of a guard on their trains, will be appalled that Arriva Rail North have failed yet again to offer any kind of progress whatsoever in the talks and have instead opted to try and bulldoze through their plans regardless.

“It is that flagrant disregard for the safety issues at the heart of the dispute which leaves us with no option but to press on with the campaign of strike action.”

However, Merseyside chief executive Frank Rogers added: “It is very disappointing that the RMT has decided to strike while the transformational upgrade of Lime Street mainline station, designed to help make the Liverpool City Region a better place to live, work and attract investment and jobs, is taking place.

“The RMT has made a point of targeting key events in the City Region calendar and seems to want to continue to disrupt the travelling public by calling the strikes during the Lime Street works.

“It is clear that their London based Executive are prepared to sacrifice growth and development in Liverpool to support their position in the South on what is a very different network to ours.”

To plan alternative travel routes and options visit networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/lnw/liverpool-city-region-upgrade.