A FRESH wave of rail strikes will hit services across Sussex and the rest of the country today with disputes over the role of guards and driver-only trains becoming increasingly bitter.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Southern, Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North and Greater Anglia will stage a second 24-hour walkout of the week, with no sign of the deadlock being broken.

The RMT has accused Southern of "bullying" tactics, claiming the company has threatened to target the pensions of those taking strike action as well as taking "further sanctions".

Members of the RMT union on the picket line as they stage a 24-hour strike at Colchester station, as workers on Southern, Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North and Greater Anglia are in disputes over the role of the guard.

Gawtick Express services are not expected to be affected by the strike but a number of Southern services will not be running or will face delays.

General secretary Mick Cash said: "Southern Rail, a company that earlier this year encouraged passengers to 'strike back' against front line staff, has once again dredged the depths of industrial relations with this outrageous threat to their staff pensions that is pure bare-faced bullying.

"If Southern seriously think that RMT will lift the campaign for safe and accessible rail services for all on the basis of threats and intimidation then they should think again.

"Instead of resorting to the gutter tactics of the playground bully Southern should start acting responsibly and should get round the table with the trade union for serious talks aimed at resolving the longest running industrial dispute in Britain."

A Southern spokesman said: "We reject the latest claims made by the RMT. Today will be the 36th day of RMT strikes and we, like our passengers and the vast majority of our colleagues, simply want an end to this unnecessary dispute."

Services not running in Sussex:

08.01 Littlehampton to Brighton

08.44 Brighton to Hove

08.53 Brighton to West Worthing

08.59 Hove to Brighton

09.11 Brighton to Hove

09.26 Hove to Brighton

09.43 Brighton to Hove

09.43 West Worthing to Brighton

09.55 Hove to Brighton

10.13 Brighton to Hove

10.23 Brighton to West Worthing

10.25 Hove to Brighton

10.43 Brighton to Hove

10.55 Hove to Brighton

11.13 Brighton to Hove

11.13 West Worthing to Brighton

11.25 Hove to Brighton

11.43 Brighton to Hove

11.57 Hove to Brighton

12.13 Brighton to Hove

12.25 Hove to Brighton

12.43 Brighton to Hove

12.55 Hove to Brighton

13.13 Brighton to Hove

13.43 Brighton to Hove

13.55 Hove to Brighton

14.13 Brighton to Hove

14.25 Hove to Brighton

14.43 Brighton to Hove

14.43 Brighton to Hove

14.55 Hove to Brighton

15.13 Brighton to Hove

15.13 Brighton to Hove

15.25 Hove to Brighton

15.43 Brighton to Hove

15.55 Hove to Brighton

15.57 Littlehampton to Portsmouth & Southsea

16.24 Brighton to West Worthing

16.59 Portsmouth & Southsea to Littlehampton

17.13 West Worthing to Brighton

17.41 London Bridge to Littlehampton

17.53 Brighton to Hove

18.01 Hove to Brighton

20.15 Newhaven Marine to Lewes

21.53 Littlehampton to Brighton