As the guards' safety strike on South Western Railway (SWR) enters it's second week in the latest phase of action, rail union RMT has set out a six point road map to a settlement.

The RMT say the plan shows just how achievable a settlement is.

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The plan includes the following points:

1. That there will be an active safety critical guard on every passenger train in service

2. That guards will retain their safety critical competencies including an active role in the safe dispatch of trains

3. That as far as practicable every station and train will be 100 per cent accessible for passengers with guards playing a role in the accessibility of services for all passengers

4. SWR will guarantee the role of the guard until the end of the franchise and seek DfT commitment beyond the life of the current franchise

5. That it is feasible to create an optimal method of dispatch in which the guard has an active and defined role as well as being able to provide passenger assistance

6. RMT recognises the company’s ambition to reduce station dwell times to an appropriately efficient and safe time. The current difference between driver-only and active-guard is 3-4 seconds and RMT will work with the company on this issue. This will include implementation of driver releasing doors and future implementation of Automatic Braking-Door Open (ABDO) system.

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General Secretary Mick Cash said: "As our members stand solid and united with this phase of SWR strike action entering it's second week we are literally three seconds away from a deal that would achieve both our objectives and the companies and I would appeal to SWR to get out of their bunker and back into ACAS with the union to bolt down a settlement.

"A negotiated solution to this dispute which would cost the company nothing and meet RMT's objectives of protecting safety and accessibility is within grasp. I would urge SWR to seize this opportunity."

A SWR spokesman said: "We welcome the RMT's press release, though we are yet to receive the plan directly.

"We actually agree with most of the RMT's points, but on a busy metro network like ours every second counts and we cannot have unnecessary and inefficient practices that increase delays for passengers.

"The best and safest way to operate the new trains we will introduce next year is with the driver closing the doors, as the industry’s own safety body, the RSSB has said.

"Only by doing this can we free up guards to offer the customer assistance the RMT describes, making our trains more accessible, and providing better customer service to everyone.

"So we need to understand what's new or different about what the RMT is proposing on this issue."