Southern rail passengers can expect two weeks of misery as rail drivers are splitting their planned six-day strike in two.

The strike, over the dispute about driver-only trains, was due to take place on Monday January 9 but will now be on 10, 11 and 13 and again on January 24, 25 and 27.

A spokesperson for Southern’s owning company, Govia Thameslink Railway, said the move was "a cynical ploy to minimise the impact on Aslef’s drivers’ pay packets and maximises misery, disruption and hardship for passengers".

Driver’s union Aslef said it was "taking a longer-term view", warning the strikes could spread to other train companies.

General secretary of Aslef Mick Whelan said: "The company has not been prepared to move - it is simply going through the motions, turning up at Acas, as it did yesterday, and telling us that it intends to impose [driver-only operated trains].

"We still believe a deal can be done but we are, at the moment, a long way from that position."

Passengers have been suffering from months of travel chaos and a strike over the New Year’s weekend halted all Southern trains.

Other operators’ services will not affected by the strikes but may be busier.