TRAIN drivers on LNER have started voting on whether to strike in a long-running dispute over pay, Aslef said on Sunday.

The state-run company operates services on the East Coast main line between London King’s Cross and Leeds, York, Durham, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh Waverley.

The union said it had reached an agreement after nine months of intensive talks, which led to a three-year productivity deal, before being told by the company that it did not have a remit to negotiate the package.

Aslef general secretary Dave Calfe said: “The company’s failure to make a suitable offer is unacceptable and that’s why we are balloting our members for industrial action.”

Aslef’s organiser in north-east England Nigel Roebuck added: “After nine months of talks, and after agreeing a package that benefits both our members and LNER, being told that third-party interference in the collective bargaining process has blocked the way forward is beyond disappointing.

“The company’s passenger timetable is, yet again, dependent on goodwill and favours and endless overtime. Have they learnt nothing from recent history?

“The timetable introduced in December 2025 had insufficient resources from day one.”

An LNER spokesperson said: “We are continuing to meet with Aslef colleagues as we work together to try to reach an agreement.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We have given LNER approval for a fair and affordable deal.

“We know how frustrating disruption can be for passengers and strongly encourage the union to continue engaging constructively with LNER to reach a solution.”