A fresh set of rail strikes are set to impact Dorset travellers.

ASLEF, the train driver’s union has announced the new set of train strikes which will affect South Western Railway (Weymouth-Waterloo) passengers on Tuesday, January 30 and  Great Western Railway (Weymouth-Bristol) on Monday, February 5.

The action comes amid a long-running pay dispute.

Train drivers will also refuse to work overtime from Monday, January 29 until Tuesday, February 6.

A South Western Railway spokesperson said: "We are aware of the latest dates for industrial action by the ASLEF union. We are working on plans for service levels over the period and we will communicate them as soon as we are able to".

ASLEF’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: "We have given the government every opportunity to come to the table, but it has now been a year since we had any contact from the Department for Transport. It's clear they do not want to resolve this dispute.

"Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living. Train drivers didn't even ask for an increase during the Covid-19 pandemic when they worked throughout as keyworkers, risking their lives to allow NHS and other workers to travel.

"The government has now tried their old trick of changing the rules when they can't win and brought in Minimum Service Levels legislation. But this new law, as we told officials during the consultation period, won't ease industrial strife. It will likely just make it worse.

"There's no excuse. The government and train operating companies must come to the table with a realistic offer so we can end this dispute and work together to ensure the future of our railways."

Walkouts will take place on the following dates.

Tuesday, January 30: Southeastern, GTR Southern/Gatwick Express, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, SWR Island Line, South Western Railway Depot Drivers, South Western Railway mainline drivers

Wednesday, January 31: Northern Trains, Transpennine Trains

Friday, February 2: Greater Anglia, C2C, LNER

Saturday, February 3: West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway

Monday, February 5: Great Western Railway, CrossCountry, Chiltern