RAIL operator Arriva Trains Northern was today facing the prospect of even more industrial action.

Station staff employed by the company are about to be balloted in a separate dispute over pay.

The news, which will be a further blow to long-suffering rail passengers, comes as the Evening Press can reveal that a conductors' strike is costing Arriva £240,000 a day in lost ticket sales.

Arriva's rail services have been wiped out after a 48-hour-strike was called by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).

Conductors have walked out, angry at pay increases they claim have been given to drivers but not to them.

Station staff are also angry with their wage levels. Now they are getting ready to vote on whether to join their conductor colleagues at the picket line.

Arriva station staff are represented by the RMT and by the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA).

Steve Coe, York TSSA negotiator, said: "We will be looking to serve notice of the ballot this week. Our colleagues at the RMT will also be serving a notice.

"The ballot will commence seven days after the notice. We have an outstanding issue with the company which goes back some 18-months."

The TSSA dispute has been caused by the breakdown of restructuring talks.

The union claims considerable progress had been made in talks, but salary offers did not meet members' aspirations.

The TSSA insists talks were halted after it was told Arriva had no more money to fund a deal.

"We were unable to agree an acceptable deal in intensive talks leading to Christmas," said Mr Coe.

"We have had no contact with the company since then. I am very disappointed with that, given the seriousness of the situation with regard to station staff.

"There has been no attempt to get round the table again. It seems to be the case that as long as you are prepared to take industrial action, they (Arriva) are prepared to talk."

Arriva's director of corporate communications, Julian Evans, said: "It would be inappropriate for the company to comment (on the station staff dispute).

"The two-day action is costing the company about £240,000 a day in lost ticket sales.

"However, we need to take into account other costs that have not been incurred. It is difficult to ascertain the true cost of the industrial action."

Updated: 10:19 Friday, January 25, 2002