Conductors on Southern Rail have postponed a second wave of strike action, despite a breakdown in talks with the company last week.

The Rail, Marine and Transport (RMT) had planned further strike action from May 10 to 13 in its dispute with the rail company over the introduction of driver only trains but will now stage a full walk-out on May 20.

Southern Rail has announced plans to turn conductor roles into on board supervisor roles, which they say "would focus on helping passengers with service information, checking tickets and offering assistance".

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The role would no longer require the operation of the train doors, a responsibility which would pass to the driver, which is how 60 per cent of Southern services operate, according to the rail company.

The union is seeking legal advice over the “threatening and abusive stance” the company is taking.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: “We have reassessed the tactics of the dispute and, recognising the hostile and aggressive stance taken by the company as we fight for the basic principles of rail safety, RMT’s executive has decided to switch the next phase of action to the 20th May.

“Southern GTR should be under no illusions, the union will not bend to their bullying and threats and we will be out there building on the huge public support we have already mobilised in a campaign that pitches the demands for increasing private profits against safety on our railways.”

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The above map shows the effect of the strike action on May 20.

But the company thinks the strikes have been postponed because “members rebelled at the prospect of losing a significant sum in pay and benefits”.

A Southern spokesman said: “This strike is totally unnecessary. All we are doing is making our staff more accessible and more able to give better customer service to passengers on board our trains, by removing the need for them to close the doors.

“While it would be good to think the RMT has changed its position, we believe they have taken this action after members rebelled at the prospect of losing a significant sum in pay and benefits due to the union calling three strike days in the same pay period.”

Southern services will be affected between 7.30am and 6.30pm on each of the four days, on services to and from Clapham Junction, Dorking and Horsham, as well as other parts of the Southern network.