SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) has released a statement prior to the company-wide strike action taking place this month.

READ MORE: South Western Railway strike: Timetable available

Strike action is set to take place throughout December, affecting several routes, including the Reading - London Waterloo line, which also runs through Bracknell, Wokingham and Ascot.

Ahead of the strike, a spokesperson from SWR said: "We have done everything we can and more to meet the RMT’s outdated demands with our promise of a guard on every train, and a safety critical role for that guard.

"What we are not prepared to compromise on is the much needed modernisation of the service with improved performance, safety and customer service that our new fleet of modern suburban trains will vitally deliver for customers.

"We know our passengers will welcome over 10 million more passenger journeys a year arriving on time and this much needed improvement to our service is too important to compromise.

"Throughout negotiations we have tried repeatedly to find ways meet the RMT’s aspirations.

"However, every time we find a way forward on one point the union has moved the goalposts by changing its position.

"They said at the outset this was about keeping the guard on the train, that is exactly what we have offered.

"They said they wanted a safety critical role for that guard, that is what we have offered.

"Unfortunately it is clear to us that the RMT is unclear on what this dispute is about and intent on striking no matter what.

"We know the impact these RMT strikes will have on our passengers and we want to be clear that we have done everything we can to try and avert the strikes and meet RMT’s antiquated and changing demands."

Further information can be found here.