RAIL strikes are set to cause chaos for Irvine and Kilwinning passengers - with golf fans’ travel arrangements for the Open under threat. 

Following industrial action taken by train workers last month, union bosses announced a fresh stage of strikes for July, scheduled for the 10th, 11th, 14th, 16th and 17th. 

It clashes with one of the biggest events on the golfing calendar, The Open Championship, held in Troon.

Key dates of the Open are impacted by the strikes, which could make it harder for fans to travel to the venue. 

Despite the vast majority of rail services agreed to run as planned, train times may differ and the frequency could be reduced. 

Discussions have been ongoing between the RMT, Britain’s largest specialist transport union and Scotrail, who are at a disagreement over driver-only-operation (DOO) trains.

DOO means that the driver of the train is asked to close the doors at stations instead of the conductor.

The RMT, however, argue that this strategy is dangerous to passengers, whilst Scotrail have hit back in claiming that there would always be a second member of staff provided on services.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash told a national newspaper: “Despite a series of rock solid strikes it is extraordinary that Abellio/ScotRail continue to ignore the strength of feeling amongst their staff over the extension of DOO. That disgraceful and cavalier approach to jobs and safety on Scotland’s railways now leaves us with no choice but to move to a new phase of industrial action.

“Our members on ScotRail stand determined and united in this fight for jobs and safety on Scotland’s rail services.

“The workforce know that any extension of DOO is a clear attack on our members hard-earned terms and conditions. RMT members should not have to face the risk of their role and responsibilities being reduced and undermined.

“The workforce also know only too well that there is a very real threat to passengers of watering down and wiping out the safety critical role of the guard on these ScotRail services. That is a lethal gamble with basic rail safety.”

Scotrail have made attempts to bring an end to the action and hoped that the union would not call for further strikes to be conducted. The conciliation service Acas has been involved in trying to resolve the dispute, however they have so far been unable to do so.

Scotrail managing director Phil Verster, in a statement on the Scotrail website, was critical of the decision taken by the RMT. 

He said: “This strike is totally needless. The RMT have refused point blank to talk to us about how we modernise and improve Scotland’s railway. Instead they have hidden behind a national policy that says that nothing must ever change. Tens of thousands of our customers will be disrupted and hundreds of our own people will be hit financially as a result of their intransigence.

“The public will be astonished to hear that this is a strike only about who opens and closes doors on trains, nothing more!

“The RMT are being, at best, disingenuous when they tell people that we are trying to have Driver only trains. We are not. We will still schedule a second person on-board when we bring in the amazing new faster, longer, greener electric trains from next year.

“The RMT are hiding behind a safety argument that doesn’t add up. The reality is that they are just opposed to change.”

Customers have been urged to check the Scotrail website to check how their journeys may be affected.