The High Court has ruled that a series of planned strikes by train drivers on the Southern rail network can go ahead next week after a judge backed the Aslef union.
Southern's parent company, Govia Thameslink (GTR) had argued that the action would breach customers' rights - an argument rejected by the court, paving the way for the first of a series of strikes to be held on Tuesday 13 December.
The judge ruled that GTR's argument was a 'novel and persuasive' but should fail.
A spokesman for GTR told the BBC: 'Naturally we're disappointed with today's decision. We will now immediately review matters with our legal team.'
Aslef said GTR's action was a waste of 'shareholders' money, passengers' money and taxpayers' money'.
General secretary Mick Whelan said: 'Now the company should do the right thing and sit down with us and negotiate - properly, sensibly and in good faith - to do a deal for the benefit of passengers, staff and, yes, the company, just like ScotRail did with us earlier this year.'
Southern planned rail strike dates:
00:01: Tuesday 13 December to 23:59 Wednesday 14 December (Aslef)
00:01 Friday 16 December to 23:59: Friday 16 December (Aslef)
00:01 Monday 19 December to 23:59 Tuesday 20 December (RMT)
00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January (RMT)
00:01 Monday 9 January to 23:59: Saturday 14 January (Aslef)
