COMMUTERS are set to endure more weeks of travel misery in the run-up to Christmas after train drivers voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.

Aslef members at Southern will be walking out on December 13, 14 and 16 and then for a week from January 9 to 14.

In addition, drivers will not do any non-contractual work from next Tuesday as part of a dispute over the introduction of driver-only trains.

The news comes as a double blow for thousands of rail passengers across Sussex who have endured months of disruption due to the ongoing industrial action by train conductors over the same issue.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have staged a series of strikes on Southern in recent months, with more three-day walkouts due to start on December 6, 22 and 31.

Southern passengers have also suffered additional disruption caused by cancellations and lack of availability of crews.

Members of Aslef yesterday backed walkouts by 87 per cent, and other forms of action by 95 per cent with the turnout standing at 77 per cent.

Aslef accused the company of wanting to impose changes rather than reach an agreement.

General secretary Mick Whelan said: “We have done our level best to try and reach a sensible, workable compromise with Southern in the interests of passengers as well as staff.

“We have always been happy to talk to the company and we have always believed it is, or should be, possible to do a deal, but it takes two to tango and the company has not been prepared to negotiate.

“The company doesn’t want to talk, it wants to bully. It doesn’t want to discuss, it wants to impose.

Charles Horton, chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway, Southern’s parent company, said: “The travelling public has endured months of misery and seen their work and family lives turned upside down by RMT’s futile industrial action with conductors.

“Now Aslef and the drivers want to compound that suffering by joining the fray in launching more pointless strikes.

“These strikes will have a devastating impact on the south east economy and people’s everyday lives which will bring Southern to a standstill.”

Commuters have reacted angrily to the news, calling on all sides to settle the dispute.