Train drivers have voted overwhelmingly to strike over pay, increasing the threat of huge disruption to rail services this summer.
Members of the drivers union Aslef at eight train companies - including Northern Rail - backed campaigns of industrial action. Aslef members at Chiltern, LNER, TransPennine Express, Arriva Rail London, Great Western, Southeastern and West Midlands Trains also voted by around 9-1 in favour of strikes on turnouts of more than 80%.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: "Strikes are always the last resort. We don't want to inconvenience passengers - our friends and families use public transport, too - and we don't want to lose money by going on strike but we've been forced into this position by the companies driven by the Government.
