Rail companies have announced strikes for two more days in August amid an ongoing row over pay, security and work conditions that will see 40,000 workers walk out.
RMT members at Network Rail and a further 14 train operators are planning to strike on August 18 and 20, in the ongoing dispute, the union announced today.
This comes after last months strikes that saw disruption for millions of commuters, and more recently union Aslef announced train drivers at eight separate firms would strike on July 30.
The strikes from the biggest rail worker unions will see over 40,000 workers across the network walk out, it is believed.
The companies planning to strike are: Network Rail, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains, and GTR (including Gatwick Express).
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The rail industry and the government need to understand that this dispute will not simply vanish.
"They need to get serious about providing an offer on pay which helps deal with the cost-of-living crisis, job security for our members and provides good conditions at work.
"Recent proposals from Network Rail fell well short on pay and on safety around maintenance work.
“And the train operating companies have not even made us a pay offer in recent negotiations.
"Now Grant Shapps has abandoned his forlorn hopes for the job of Prime Minister, he can now get back to his day job and help sort this mess out.
"We remain open for talks, but we will continue our campaign until we reach a negotiated settlement."
The union previously announced a strike for July 27, the day before the Commonwealth Games opens in Birmingham.
This comes after the RMT union led three days of action in June that was the largest railway strike since 1989.
Across June 21, 23, and 25 the union said tens of thousands of workers walked out.
That figure peaked peaked on June 21, where 50,000 workers walked out and this coincided with a 24-hour London underground strike as well.
The upcoming industrial action by Aslef will see more than 6,000 drivers enter enter the dispute.
This continues a summer of industrial action that has seen workers across a number of sectors strike for improved pay and conditions amongst a cost of living crisis.
