The dispute over driver-only operation on East West Rail is being stepped up by the RMT.

Its members are being balloted for a strike, and the union is planning to stage a demonstration outside Marylebone station in London on Monday.

The service between Oxford and Milton Keynes is set to be operated by Chiltern, but the union says the operator has not provided guarantees over the safety critical role of the second crew member on board.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said driver-only operation proposed on East-West Rail represented a ‘significant risk’ to safety and the current train manager jobs at Chiltern.

He continued: ‘The actions of Chiltern management to not take these concerns seriously is totally unacceptable. RMT will not accept the watering down of safety on the rail network.’

The demonstration will take place one day after the Chiltern Railways National Rail Contract is renationalised.

Chiltern has said ‘significant progress’ had been made, including the recruitment of 44 drivers, but could not provide an opening date. The DfT said it had been ‘supporting Chiltern Railways as they work with unions and other industry partners to get these services up and running as soon as possible’.

The RMT ballot closes on 29 September.

The latest section of East West Rail, which includes a new station at Winslow and new platforms at Bletchley High Level, has been completed for almost two years, but scheduled trains have yet to run.

However, GWR will be operating diverted long distance services on 28 and 29 November via Oxford, EWR and Milton Keynes Central to London Euston while Dolphin Junction on the Great Western Main Line is being renewed, isolating Paddington. These services are likely to be the first public fare paying passenger trains on the restored section between Bicester and Bletchley, 25 months after the line was reopened for service.

Meanwhile, a GWR Intercity Express carrying invited guests ran from Oxford to the Stewartby area on 4 September via East West Rail, and reversing at Milton Keynes Central and Bletchley. The trip was to illustrate how trains could serve the Universal UK theme park now under construction south west of Bedford.

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