RAIL union TSSA has served notice to ballot hundreds more staff for strike action and action short of strike.
Members at train operators Cross Country, East Midlands Railway and West Midlands Trains will be balloted for action in a dispute over pay, conditions and job security.
These ballots follow a similar move in Avanti West Coast in an escalating dispute across the railway.
TSSA has served notice for ballots in the three companies on the following timetable:
Ballots open: Thursday, June 16
Ballots close: Thursday, July 7
In all some 570 members will be balloted across these three companies, taking the total number of TSSA members being balloted to 870.
Ballots would allow for strike action, which the union says is a last resort, to take place ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
TSSA is demanding a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for 2022, no un-agreed changes to terms and conditions, and a pay increase which reflects the rising cost of living.
TSSA has 132 members in Cross Country and 269 members at West Midlands Trains.
Action by Control staff would halt services while action by managers would severely impact the ability to keep services running and station staff action would affect the running of services and passenger safety.
The union says the last time these staff had a pay rise was 2020.
