RAIL services ground to a halt as staff walked out in a dispute over the role of guards on trains.

Buses replaced trains on the Lakes Line from Oxenholme to Windermere on Monday and there was a severely reduced timetable on the Furness Line, which runs from Barrow to Lancaster.

People were on hand to direct confused passengers to shuttle buses to and from the stations.

The strike was called as employees become increasingly angered at plans to remove guards from trains with the The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) promising to fight to 'retain the safety critical role'.

Currently trains operating on the Northern franchise require a minimum of two safety-trained members of staff: the driver and the conductor.

The RMT said guards are trained to be able to help passengers in the event of trouble on a train, or a derailment.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The union’s position on Driver Only Operation is perfectly clear. We will not agree to any introduction of DOO and will fight to retain the safety critical role of the guard and to keep a guard on the train."

The proposal for Driver Only Operation trains is included in a number of changes being considered by Northern as it looks to modernise its network by 2020. Northern says new technology means guards are not needed for jobs such as checking doors are clear.

A spokesperson said the programme will see the introduction of 281 new carriages, 243 upgraded trains, 2,000 extra services each week and better stations across the network.

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Sharon Keith, regional director for Northern, said: “Modernising the train journey of our customers means we have to make changes. We want to involve everyone as we develop our plans, from our customers and communities, to employees and their trade unions.

“Our proposals are still in the early stages, so it is disappointing that RMT is taking strike action because there is lots of time to talk and agree how we modernise the way we provide customer service. As part of our proposals we are prepared to offer guarantees on jobs and pay to our people.”

Meanwhile, a petition against the proposals has surpassed 10,000 signatures.

Sign it at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175682