A NEW wave of strike action by train drivers will paralyse rail services in the New Year after they voted overwhelmingly to continue their long-running battle over pay.

Members of Aslef will strike on Thursday January 5, joining RMT members who are scheduled to walk out on January 3, 4, 6 and 7.

Aslef members renewed their commitment to strike action in a new ballot forced on them by government anti-strike laws. 

This time the mandate was even stronger than in the original ballot six months ago – 93 per cent for strike action on an 85 per cent turnout.

The drivers’ strike will halt services at 15 train companies including Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia and GTR Great Northern Thameslink.

London North Eastern Railway, Northern Trains, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, South Western Railway (depot drivers only), SWR Island Line, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains will also be hit.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We don’t want to go on strike but the companies have pushed us into this place.

“The train companies say their hands have been tied by the government. While the government — which does not employ us — says it’s up to the companies to negotiate with us. 

“We are always happy to negotiate — we never refuse to sit down at the table and talk — but these companies have offered us nothing. And that is unacceptable.”

Taxpayers will again fork out compensation to privateer operators on top of their bloated subsidies under the terms of the lucrative franchises handed to them by the government.

A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group said: “Industrial action has already cost the industry millions in lost revenue, and more strikes threaten the industry’s long-term sustainability.”