Tens of thousands of rail users today faced travel chaos because of a fresh strike over pay.

Arriva Trains Northern said it was planning to run 55 per cent of its 1,400 services across northern England despite the 48-hour walkout by members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT).

Around three-quarters of the company's network would be covered today and tomorrow, said Arriva.

But the union said it expected the strike by hundreds of conductors to cause widespread disruption to services.

A three per cent basic increase has been rejected, but Arriva says the conductors could earn a further five per cent through productivity gains.

Managing director Ray Price said: "All the indications we have received suggest our conductors want to get back to work and see the dispute resolved."

RMT denied the claim. "If anything, we have underestimated the strength of feeling against the company," said a spokesman.