Southern Rail passengers have been warned that services will be “severely disrupted” over the New Year period because of a fresh walkout by guards and an ongoing overtime dispute with drivers.

Travellers are advised to check before they travel with the Rail, Maritime and Transport union’s (RMT) next three-day strike due to start tomorrow (December 31).

Southern Rail said a team of contingency conductors will be keeping key routes open but services on some routes will be reduced and finish earlier, while other routes will have no services or a replacement bus service.

However all routes will be subject to possible cancellation and severe disruption.

The strike action is expected to cause more travel chaos for passengers who have suffered delays and cancellations for months because of the industrial action, shortage of staff, sickness and other issues such as signalling problems.

Alex Foulds, Southern’s deputy chief operating officer, said: “We are sorry that yet again passengers will have their plans disrupted by what is pointless industrial action.

“While we will do everything we can to get passengers where they want to go, we have to warn people that journeys may be disrupted and take longer than normal.

“Our best advice is to check on the day you travel, particularly if you are heading out to New Year celebrations, as services on some routes finish early in the evening.”