TRAIN drivers called on ministers to “strip” beleaguered Southern Rail from its owners yesterday.

Drivers’ union Aslef said the company had “peddled misleading press statements” over negotiations to end the long-running dispute over driver-only trains.

Southern’s owners GTR claimed that the union had turned down an offer which would see members earn £75,000 a year. However Aslef said this was misleading as the figure included overtime which was unlikely to be guaranteed by the company.