The 13,000 guards voted by 84% in favour of industrial action, which will take place on 29 October unless an agreement is reached.

Guards on Thames Trains and Great Western - the two companies involved in last week's rail crash at Paddington - both voted heavily in favour.

Bob Crow, assistant general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT), said: "This is a complete mandate for safety on the railways."

The BBC's Stephen Evans: "Nine to one in favour"

Action would affect 23 out of the 25 rail companies operating in the UK. The only services unaffected would be Thameslink and West Anglia Great Northern.

Mr Crow has complained that under the proposed changes guards would be "ticket collectors and KitKat sellers" instead of trained railway workers.

But train companies have said the plans to move responsibility for safety from guards to drivers is about simplifying responsiblity in crashes.

The Health and Safety Executive said it had no objection to the changes on safety grounds.

A spokesman said: "If there is an accident there needs to be established lines of communication, primarily between guard and driver and passengers.

"In case a member of train crew is incapacitated there must be back up procedures in relation to protecting the train. The rule book changes address these issues."

Vic Coleman, HSE's chief inspector of railways, said he had offered to meet Railtrack and the RMT to discuss the issue.