BRITAIN’S worst performing rail firm received a huge blow to its efforts to roll out driver-only trains yesterday, when drivers finally announced nine days of strike action.

Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR’s) Southern division has been locked in a bitter dispute with conductors over the deskilling of their roles through the transfer of door control duties to drivers.

The network has been hit by commuter chaos as a result of a number of strikes by the RMT union, as well as staff shortages and other mishaps.