CATERING workers on one of Britain’s most historic and scenic railway routes are to strike this week in defence of their jobs, RMT announced yesterday.

Staff threatened with redundancy staged two 24-hour strikes in December and will walk out again on Thursday this week, January 29.

The Settle-Carlisle railway is a 73-mile route through the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines that survives thanks to a campaign against closure in the 1980s.

Northern Rail operates on the route. Catering is provided by the Settle and Carlisle Railway Development Company (SCRDC).

The union says SCRDC is profitable, and that there is no need for redundancies.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Despite numerous requests to look at alternatives to compulsory redundancy the company has pressed ahead. In these circumstances RMT has no option but to put on a third phase of action and the union remains available for further talks.”