TRAIN drivers have overwhelming voted for more strike action, renewing their mandate for the fourth time since June 2022.

The result means industrial action by Aslef members can continue until the summer.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “We are in this for the long haul.

“Our members — who have not had a pay rise for nearly five years now — are determined that the train companies and the Tory government that stands behind them do the right thing.

“It’s unrealistic and unfair to expect our members to work just as hard for what, in real terms, is considerably less.

“We are calling on the government to let the companies come back to the table and make our members a sensible offer, with no strings attached, to reflect the increase in the cost of living.”

Unions involved in disputes have to reballot their members every six months under the Tory government’s anti-strike laws to ask if they want to continue taking industrial action.

Aslef members at 12 train operators in England were reballoted, each returning huge votes in favour on high turnouts.