Rail bosses are drawing up plans to keep supermarket shelves stocked over fears that a strike billed as the biggest in modern history will bring the train network to a halt.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union is balloting its 40,000 members on strike action, with the vote closing on Tuesday.
Another union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, is also consulting members on a strike and has vowed to co-ordinate with the RMT.
In an effort to prevent empty shelves and petrol pumps from running dry, contingency measures are being prepared for freight trains to take priority over passenger services. Senior rail insiders said that there could be times when tracks were reserved for goods.
The RMT has vowed to trigger a “summer