STRIKE action may be looming on Northern Rail trains in a row over jobs, services and safety.

Members of the RMT union have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action against the York-based rail firm, which runs local services across the north including trains from York to Harrogate, Selby and Hull.

The union says there has been an 80 per cent yes vote in favour of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action short of a strike.

A spokesman said the dispute related to the removal of permanent posts and the creation of zero hour jobs via a contract with a security company, STM, cuts to booking offices and attacks on the role and responsibility of train guards.

He claimed Northern Rail, which is based in Rougier Street and employs about 5,000 people, would actively erode the safety critical responsibilities of guards with aspirations to introduce a new grade of ticket examiner on reduced pay and conditions.

He also claimed the company had reneged on a previous agreement not to increase STM staff levels during the current franchise.

"In the last 18 months, jobs on the inferior STM contract have increased from 150 to 500, jeopardising Northern Rail jobs," he said.

"RMT asked Northern Rail for current figures on the STM contract but the company chose to decline to give us this information, hiding behind the cloak of commercial sensitivity."

He also said Northern Rail had embarked on a series of reductions to overall opening hours at booking offices across the network.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said it had made every effort to win assurances from Northern Rail over jobs, services and safety. "However, the company continues to ride roughshod over our efforts," he said.

“We therefore had no option but to ballot all staff for action to force the company to take these issues seriously and the members have now voted decisively for action. That mandate will now be considered by the union."

Adrian Thompson, HR Director for Northern Rail, said he was disappointed that members had voted in favour of action but noted that only 38 per cent of members who were asked to vote, voted yes to this. "That means 62 per cent of people who were asked to vote either voted no or did not vote," he said.

“The RMT executive committee has said it is now considering the result. As soon as we have any further information, we will update our customers."

He claimed some of the RMT’s issues were about requirements for the next Northern franchise, which started next April.

“We have explained to the RMT that this means the issues they are concerned about are not part of Northern Rail’s current franchise and are not within our control to change," he said. "They would need to be discussed with the new operator of the franchise from April 2016. The DfT is expected to announce the winner of the next Northern franchise later this year.”