WEST Fife commuters have been warned to prepare for travel disruption after the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union confirmed a fresh wave of strikes.

RMT members were already due to take industrial action over the long-running dispute with Scotrail over driver-only trains, but extra dates have now been added.

The Fife Circle will see reduced services as members go on strike on six days this month, which will include two 48-hour walkouts.

Strikes will be held this Sunday (July 3), as well as on July 10 and 11, July 14, and the weekend of July 16 and 17.

The RMT is against the extension of driver-only (DOO) and driver-controlled (DCO) trains on Scotrail, and is defending its policy for guards to be in control of operating doors.

Conciliation service Acas has been involved in trying to solve the dispute, but it remains deadlocked.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Despite a series of rock-solid strikes it is extraordinary that Abellio/Scotrail continue to ignore the strength of feeling amongst their staff over the extension of DOO.

“That disgraceful and cavalier approach to jobs and safety on Scotland’s railways now leaves us with no choice but to move to a new phase of industrial action.

“Our members on Scotrail stand determined and united in this fight for jobs and safety on Scotland’s rail services.

‎”The workforce know that any extension of DOO or DCO is a clear attack on our members' hard-earned terms and conditions.

“RMT members should not have to face the risk of their role and responsibilities being reduced and undermined.

“The workforce also know only too well that there is a very real threat to passengers of watering down and wiping out the safety critical role of the guard on these Scotrail services. ‎That is a lethal gamble with basic rail safety.

“The union remains available for serious and meaningful talks.”

Scotrail managing director Phil Verster slammed RMT's “all too familiar behaviour”.

He said: “The RMT have announced another round of needless, damaging strikes on the evening before we are due to come together for talks.

“This clearly marks the difference between our two approaches. We want to talk, they want to strike.

“The people who lose out are our customers who will face more disruption and our own people who will be hit hard in the pocket.

“It is important to remember that this is a strike about who opens and closes doors on our trains.

“No-one will lose their jobs, no one will see their pay drop or see any change to their terms and conditions.

“At present 59 percent of people who use a train in Scotland travel on a service that has the doors safely opened and closed by the driver, while a second member of staff looks after our customers. This will not change.

“We are not removing people from trains, we are talking about what they do so that they always provide the very best service to our customers.

“We will continue to arrange talks – just as we have done for tomorrow. However, we will never find a solution if the RMT continues in this manner.

“These strikes are very real and are hurting our customers and our people. It is time to end the strikes and start meaningful discussions.”

Scotrail will publish temporary timetables in advance. Commuters are urged to log on to www.scotrail.co.uk for status updates and live information on strike days.