RAILWAY workers that help run Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates services from the three companies, voted 80 per cent in favour of industrial action on a turnout of 57.5 per cent.

A ballot of members in May fell short of the numbers needed to allow workers to join the three days of strike action last month.

More than 2,000 staff at the rail firm will take part in future strike action, according to the RMT.

However, no strike dates have been announced as yet.

General secretary of the RMT Mick Lynch heralded the news as a “fantastic result”.

He said: “Our members were denied their democratic right to strike due to draconian ballot thresholds but having smashed through those at the second time of asking, they are raring to join our campaign.

“GTR staff are now able to join our fight and have a legal mandate to take action in the future, to get a negotiated settlement on pay, job security and working conditions.

“We will continue our negotiations next week with Network Rail and the train operating companies with a view to getting our members a just deal.”

Mr Lynch said that he could not rule out further strike action and that the union is focused on coming to an agreement with rail bosses to give members “what they need”.

Angie Doll, chief operating officer of GTR, said: “While we are disappointed that passengers may now face more disruption, our focus remains on encouraging the RMT to work with the industry to seek a swift resolution.”

Commuters and rail passengers faced widespread disruption last month when workers from 13 rail companies and Network Rail walked out over three days of industrial action.

Services across Sussex were impacted by the strike, with reduced numbers of trains running and some routes cancelled outright.