Guards employed by Greater Anglia are set to hold another one-day strike the day after the two-day Christmas rail network shutdown.

But the company expects there will be little effect on passengers – it has clearance from the Office of Rail and Road to use alternative staff to carry out conductor/guards’ duties and plans to run a scheduled service on that day.

We are obviously disappointed with the announcement today. We are hoping to resolve this dispute through discussions with RMT union officials. Prior to today’s announcement, we had arranged talks with the RMT for tomorrow. We will be going ahead with those talks as planned.

“, along with alterations due to engineering works. We will be aiming to run that revised service, but will confirm full details nearer the time. Customers are advised to check before they travel using the Greater Anglia website or app.

“We value our conductors highly. We have guaranteed their jobs until the end of the franchise in October 2025. In fact, we will be recruiting additional conductors, as we are replacing all of our trains with brand new trains from 2019, which will enable us to run more services.”

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said the new strike had been called after new talks broke down: “It’s the continuing failure of the train companies and their political puppet masters in Government to make any attempt whatsoever to resolve these disputes over rail safety that has led us to call action today.

“There is chaos and confusion in the rail industry surrounding the Governments positon which makes it almost impossible to negotiate and I have written to Chris Grayling to express my concern at this lack of clarity and contradictory messages but also to offer further talks not least on the vital issue of accessibility.”