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The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said a fresh ballot of its members showed overwhelming support to carry on with action.

Under employment law, the union had to re-ballot its members six months after a previous vote. The RMT said the average turnout among its members in Network Rail and 14 train operating companies was 70.2 percent, with a ‘yes’ vote of over 90 percent.

It means RMT members in these areas will be able to take strike action for potentially another six-month period.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The National Executive Committee will now look at these fantastic results and negotiations will continue with Network Rail and the train operating companies.

“The union is determined to continue with this campaign until the employers understand that they need to respond to members’ aspirations on job security, pay and conditions.”

Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s chief negotiator, said: “The only way to solve this dispute is around the negotiating table.

“What’s clear for all of us is that striking is not changing the railway’s precarious financial position, but actually only making it worse. The railway has not recovered from the pandemic and is currently losing millions a day, which makes reaching a deal both tough and essential.”

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