RAIL union TSSA said yesterday that its members working for Virgin Trains on the west coast main line will take strike action extending up to the end of January.

Ticket office, platform and supervisory staff who work on the route from Glasgow to Euston will begin a series of six 24-hour strikes on Friday December 15.

The news came the day after fellow rail union RMT announced strikes by its members working for Virgin Trains on the same route.

Both unions are demanding that the 9 per cent increase awarded to train drivers should be extended to other Virgin workers, who have been offered only 3.2 per cent.

TSSA leader Manuel Cortes said: “Frankly, for the company to cherry-pick drivers for a pay deal better than the rest of their staff is not only insulting but terrible management.

“Nobody wants to be on strike at Christmas time and nobody has to be if Richard Branson stops behaving like Scrooge and starts treating his workers fairly and equally.”

The union has called for fresh talks to resolve the dispute before Christmas.

Further strikes are due on December 22 and January 5, 8, 26 and 29.