More strikes will hit the Southern Rail network next week after talks between train bosses and unions broke down.

Drivers and guards are now due to go on strike on Wednesday as the dispute over driver only operated trains rumbles on.

The 24-hour strike by RMT members was announced today and comes the day after talks reached an early end.

Union bosses said the latest strikes - in place from midnight on Wednesday, February 22 - are being called because of an "abject failure" by Southern during yesterday's negotiations.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: "These disputes could have been settled if Southern had listened to our case and given the guarantee of a second-safety critical member of staff on their trains.

"The full detail of Southern’s plan is far worse than anyone could have anticipated.

"This is dire news, not just for staff, but for passengers who rightly demand a safe, reliable and accessible service. RMT will not walk away from the fight for a railway that puts public safety before private profit."

Mr Cash accused Southern of "shifting the goalposts" by creating what he called a "strike breakers' charter" which he said will involve several new conditions including for trains to run as driver-only during industrial action.

He said: "That is simply scandalous and a measure of the betrayal of our members as a result of the TUC-brokered deal with Southern in the drivers’ dispute."

Speaking on yesterday's break down in negotiations, Nick Brown, the chief operating officer of Southern's parent company, Govia Thameslink, said: "We came to today’s meeting hopeful we could find a way forward to end the RMT’s dispute and we’re saddened it’s ended so prematurely.

"The travelling public will find the union’s obstinate refusal to engage in meaningful and constructive talks disappointing, disheartening and increasingly destructive.

"Over the past year the RMT has had 28 days of strikes on this one issue. We’ve seen in excess 20,000 trains cancelled as a result, thousands of journeys disrupted, people’s work and family lives badly impacted and the cost to the regional economy is in excess of £300m.

"Conductors in the RMT union transferred to the new customer service role (on-board supervisor) from the beginning of last month and are now operating effectively in that role.

"We’ve fully implemented our modernisation programme with the driver opening and closing the doors and a second person focused on customer service on our trains.

"Everyone is sick and tired of the RMT’s strikes and their pointless and intransigent stance needs to stop, and stop now."