Network Rail workers voted 4-1 to go on strike today after being balloted over what action to take over a pay row with their employers.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the results of the ballot showed a "deep-seated grievance felt by their staff" over "attacks on their standards of living".
Network Rail's top boss has accused unions of holding the country to ransom and urged union leaders to "come back to the table for further discussions" over the current pay dispute.
Chief executive Mark Carne said: "The railways are a vital public service and industrial action would have a massive impact on millions of passengers, as well as freight distribution across Britain. It cannot be right that the unions can hold the country to ransom in this way."
"Our employees have received pay rises eight times higher than other public sector workers over the last four years and have now been offered a deal for the next four years that is unmatched elsewhere.
“Despite the very clear need to modernise our railways, we have offered a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for the next two years. The unions have also rejected a number of proposals that would boost productivity, removing our ability to offer them more."
Speaking after workers voted for strike action after rejecting a new pay package offered by the rail company, Carne pledged that he would do everything to "keep our railways moving during these times of uncertainty".
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