Six more months of rail strikes could pile further misery on commuters after union members voted overwhelmingly to continue with industrial action.
Trade union the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union today announced it has a "stunning" mandate for more walkouts across the UK's railways.
It follows months of disruption as rail workers demand better pay and conditions in a bitter dispute with their employers.
No dates have yet been announced for action, but the result of the latest ballot means strikes could go ahead well into 2023.
The RMT today announced that across both Network Rail and 14 train operating companies, the average turnout was 70.2% - with a 'yes' vote of 91.6%.
Under employment law, the union had to re-ballot its members six months after a previous vote.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The National Executive Committee will now look at these fantastic results and negotiations will continue with Network Rail and the train operating companies.
“This union is determined to continue with this campaign until the employers understand that they need to respond to our members' aspirations on job security, pay and working conditions."
The move has been met with dismay by the head of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents operators.
Chairman Steve Montgomery said: "We recognise the strength of feeling among our people, and call on the RMT leadership to continue to work with us to agree the vital reforms necessary to both afford a fair pay deal, and secure a sustainable future for the railway which is currently taking more than its fair share from the taxpayer.
"Further counterproductive strike action would only heap more misery on our customers and struggling businesses in the run up to Christmas, and continue to undermine the viability of an industry we all want to see thrive.”
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail's chief negotiator, said: "The only way to solve this dispute, for both our people and our passengers, is around the negotiating table, which is why we look forward to continuing intensive talks in the days ahead with the hope of finding a breakthrough and an amicable solution for all.
"What's clear for all of us is that striking is not changing the railway's precarious financial position, but actually only making it worse. The railway has not recovered from the pandemic and is currently losing millions a day, which makes reaching a deal both tough and essential."
