Southern Railway drivers vote to strike over driver-only train

Drivers on Southern Railway have overwhelmingly voted to strike in a dispute over driver-only trains.

The move raises the prospect of further travel disruption on Southern over the holiday period.

Members of the ASLEF union backed walkouts by 87% and other forms of action by 95%, with a turnout of 77%.

The union's executive is now deciding its next move and will have to give seven days' notice of any industrial action.

ASLEF accuses Southern Railway of seeking to impose changes rather than trying to find common ground, while the company's owners branded the ballot "wholly unnecessary and unjustified".

The dispute may add to the misery of Southern passengers, who have faced strikes over the past months as well as disrupted service due to shortage of staff and other issues.

ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said the union had "genuinely sought to reach a compromise with Southern".

"We have always been prepared to talk to the company and we have always been of the view that it should be possible to do a deal, but it takes two to tango and the company has not been prepared to negotiate," he added.

"They have dug in their heels and forced us to ballot our members."

The union maintains there should be no introduction or extension of driver-only-operated routes on Southern without its agreement.

Charles Horton, chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway, which owns Southern, said he was "disappointed" at the prospect of a strike.

"It's perfectly safe for the driver to have sole responsibility for the operation of a modern train, and that's how a third of the trains up and down the country - with the full agreement and support of ASLEF - already operate today," he said.

"We urge ASLEF to get round the table with us to continue our talks and resolve their dispute without causing further unnecessary grief to passengers."

The dispute is separate from the long-running row between Southern and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union over changes to the role of conductors.

RMT has already staged strikes in recent months and is planning three more on 6, 22 and 31 December.