Strike ballot in New Year piles on misery for rail commuters

Rail commuters suffering snow disruption and fare increases of up to 13 per cent face strike action.

Union bosses predict chaos at Victoria and Charing Cross, two of the busiest stations serving London.

The strike ballot result among scores of Southeastern station staff, some of whose job it is to get trains away on time at the two stations, will be declared on Tuesday January 4, 24 hours after the fares rise begins. The union predicts overwhelming support.

Southeastern fares will rise by 7.8 per cent on average, adding hundreds of pounds to annual season tickets.

One of the highest increases is Ramsgate to Victoria which goes up by £497 to £4,377 (12.8 per cent) and Tonbridge to Charing Cross, up £360 to £3,408 (11.8 per cent.)

The RMT union has ordered the ballot in protest at job cuts and changes to working conditions.
Leader Bob Crow said: "Just days after their services collapsed into total chaos in the cold snap, Southeastern has been caught out yet again cutting staffing and operational costs to maximise profits.

"It will not only cause chaos on the platforms at Victoria and Charing Cross but which would also compromise safety.

"Southeastern has got the nerve to jack up fares by 13 per cent while hacking back on platform operations that will delay and disrupt the (train) dispatch process while putting their staff in the firing line when things go wrong."