A GOVERNMENT minister is urging a union not to start strikes that could leave Petersfield, Liss, Liphook and Rowlands Castle commuters and rail users facing months of travel misery.

The strike vote by members of The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) means industrial action can be taken on the South West rail network, which includes the Portsmouth to Waterloo line.

The dispute centres on the use, or likely use, of driver only trains.

Union members on the South West network voted in support of walk outs on Tuesday, October 3.

In a letter to East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds, the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said: “union members have voted for strike action.”

He added: “I hope a resolution can be found, but should strike dates be announced I will provide a full update about contingency measures planned by South Western Railway.

“I cannot make the RMT call off industrial action, however I urge them, in the strongest possible terms, to cease their ongoing attempts to disrupt passengers’ lives.”

But the union claims the new operators of the South West network South Western Railway (SWR) may cut jobs in future.

They want reassurances that new trains due to be delivered by 2020 won’t be driver only trains, and that no guards will lose their jobs.

RMT also claims that only having a lone driver on a train could affect passengers safety, putting them at risk.

General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Our members voted overwhelmingly for both strike action and action short of a strike and that massive mandate will now be considered by RMT’s executive who will decide the next steps.”

SWR took over the South West rail network at the end of August from the previous operators South West Trains.

South West Trains and the RMT had an agreement that trains would always carry two staff members.

The union want this agreement continued by the new network operator, but SWR refuses to; but it has said it plans to take on more drivers and guards.

Mr Cash added: “RMT has given repeated opportunities for the assurances we have sought over the future role of the guards on their trains throughout the length of the new South Western franchise.

“They have refused to give those guarantees and it is that which left RMT with no option but to conduct a ballot for action.

“RMT remains available for talks.”

But the rail company says the union has got it wrong.

In a statement an SWR spokesman said: “We have been clear that we plan to retain a second person on our services, as we know that our passengers value the assurance and assistance a second member of on-board staff provides.

“That’s why we will increase the numbers of drivers and guards so we can deliver more services for passengers.

“We aim to deliver improvements for passengers throughout including more trains, quicker journeys, and earlier and later services. Today’s announcement undermines those efforts. We urge the RMT to avoid premature strike action and work with us to deliver for our customers, and we look forward to meeting union representatives as planned to discuss our future.”

And after this latest vote in favour of strike action, the RMT union is now in dispute across five rail networks over the same issue.

This includes the long running one with South East Rail that has caused months of disruption on the Sussex rail network and looks set to continue.