RAIL workers are ready for a “very, very long” battle against profiteering operators and the government, transport union RMT said today. 

The warning from general secretary Mick Lynch follows an overwhelming 89 per cent vote in favour of strikes by RMT members at Network Rail and 13 train operating companies.

He said that the industrial action “could go on for a very, very long time. There is no sign at the moment that anybody is backing down on their side of the table.”

The dispute comes against a background of pay freezes, worsening working conditions and an unrelenting attack on jobs by privateer rail operators, with the latest attack threatening the jobs of staff in 1,000 ticket offices.

By law, unions have to give two weeks’ notice of industrial action, so the strike could start in mid-June.

The impact on services is expected to be severe, with both passenger and freight trains affected.

Mr Lynch said: “We want to make the strike action as effective as possible from our point of view.

“Our members are prepared to take effective strike action in pursuit of the settlement of this dispute. 

“I have got no idea how long that will take and I can’t determine from here what the outcomes and side effects of that will be.

“I can’t see a way out from the strikes at the moment. Unless there is a breakthrough and the government instructs these companies — which they are doing — to change their line rather than harden their line, it is very, very likely there will be strike action and it will be very soon.”