FRESH talks are to begin again today in a bid to resolve the bitter, year-long dispute over staffing and driver-only trains between Southern and the biggest rail union.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have taken 31 days of strike action over changes to the role of conductors to on board supervisors.

Passengers have suffered delays and cancellations due to the industrial dispute, staff shortages and other issues.

The talks are scheduled for today and tomorrow.

The RMT is staging a protest and rally outside Parliament on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the dispute.

Members of the train drivers union Aslef have already rejected a deal drawn up by union chiefs and Southern aimed at ending a parallel dispute.