MIDLAND Mainline train services face disruption again today because of a 24-hour strike by guards in a long-running safety row.

Around 150 members of the Rail Maritime and Transport were to walk out from midnight in the second of four Friday stoppages.

The union is campaigning for a guard to be present in each portion of a multi-unit train instead of one covering the whole train.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "After last Friday's successful stoppage we hoped that Midland Mainline would remove their heads from the sand but our calls have fallen on deaf ears."

and strike action is the only weapon we have left.

"I hope that members of the travelling public will understand that we are taking action to stop safety standards being subordinated to cost-cutting and join with us in calling on the company to talk."

Midland Mainline said the action would force alterations to services and apologised to passengers for any disruption.