Rail services through Lockerbie are set to be hit by strike action next month.
Members of train drivers union Aslef at several companies will stage industrial action on February 1 and 3 in a dispute over pay.
TransPennine Express and Avanti West Coast, both of which run through Lockerbie, are among the companies affected.
The latest proposal was four a four per cent pay rise for two years but with a number of changes to working practices.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: “The offer is not acceptable but we are willing to engage in further discussions with the train operating companies.
“Not only is the offer a real-terms pay cut, with inflation running north of 10 per cent, but it came with so many conditions attached that it was clearly unacceptable.
“They want to rip up our terms and conditions in return for a real-terms pay cut.”
A Rail Delivery Group spokesman said: “It’s disappointing our fair and affordable offer, which would take average driver base salaries from £60,000 to nearly £65,000 by the end of 2023 pay awards, wasn’t put to the Aslef members.
“With taxpayers still funding up to an extra £175 million a month to make up the shortfall in revenue post-Covid, it provided a significant salary uplift while bringing in long overdue, common-sense reforms that would mean more reliable services for passengers.”
Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Mark Harper claims train companies have “permission” to make a new offer to unions, including the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).
The long running dispute has resulted in no trains in Dumfries and Galloway on previous strike days.
