A minister on Tuesday defended train drivers threatening fresh strike action after being offered a pay rise from the government.
Aslef (the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) last week said its members employed by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) would strike every weekend from the end of August to mid-November.
Members of Aslef are being recommended to vote in favour of a three-year increase worth 14.5 per cent.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said the issue between the union and LNER was not about pay, but rather working conditions.
Asked if she was disappointed to see train drivers announce industrial action after being offered a pay rise, she told LBC: “The money is not going to unions.
“The money is going to train drivers who are working people who deserve a pay rise. Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary, has come in and resolved that very long-running dispute which the previous Conservative government did nothing to stop and that dispute cost, over two years, in the region of £850 million for taxpayers.
“This government has resolved the dispute. Train drivers are not going on strike. Passengers can rely on trains now.”
She added: "We're disappointed that there is a dispute between LNER and Aslef and their members.
"That is not a dispute about pay. That is a dispute about existing conditions, agreements locally with that company, that are to do with managers driving trains, as I understand it.
“We want both parties to get around the table and resolve it as quickly as possible, and we think that's what they'll do."
It comes as talks will be held with the Government this week over pay rises for rail workers and seafarers.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will meet with officials at the Department for Transport on Tuesday to discuss a pay rise for its members at train-operating companies.
The union will be seeking a deal for this year, without any changes to terms and conditions.
The RMT will also meet Network Rail on Thursday to discuss pay, and will also hold talks later this week with the Ministry of Defence to try to resolve a pay dispute at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that all offers would be dealt with by the union after talks are completed.
"We really need to move on from the belligerent and hostile attitude of the last government and reset industrial relations to allow rail workers and RFA seafarers to get on with the job," he said.
The meetings follow a suggested deal aimed at ending the long-running train drivers' pay dispute.
