Wharfedale rail passengers face severe disruptions as Arriva Train Northern employees set to take strike action over pay.

Services from Ilkley and Otley to Leeds and Bradford will be effected as strikes will be taking place on January 24 and 25, and February 5 and 6.

Conductors are to carry out a series of 48-hour strikes following a decision by Arriva Train Northern chiefs to give drivers a

substantially higher pay increase than the conductors.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union voted in favour of strike action on Tuesday evening.

Chairman of the Wharfedale Rail Users Group (WRUG), Tom Wesley said he thought that the passengers would be very disappointed at the news.

"We are concerned for the passengers. It is obviously going to be a very significant disappointment to people going to work," said Mr Wesley.

"For Wharfe rail users it is going to be very difficult and we are very concerned. It will not be easy for people to get into Leeds, all the buses will be very full and the roads will be full as well.

"There seems to be no end for the passengers, it has been going on a long time from floods to driver shortages, the service was only just improving. Since November and December the services have been a lot better, they are only running 80 per cent of the services, but now they will be disrupted again and we are just fed up."

These are the first rail strikes which Ilkley and Otley will have seen for more than 30 years.

The strike by the conductors could disrupt services through-out northern England.

A strike by South West Train employees has already had a crippling effect on rail networks in the south of England. Staff from South West Trains will also be striking with northern employees on January 24 and 25.

A spokesman for Arriva Trains Northern said: "Arriva Trains Northern is disappointed with the outcome of the ballot organised by the RMT. The company will continue to be available for discussions with the trade union."

Last year strike action was threatened by the Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA), which represents station

workers, after Arriva Train Northern rejected their demands for a 40 per cent pay rise.

The company has also received fines

from the Strategic Rail Authority after

cancelling services due to its shortage of drivers.

Calls by the chairman of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party, Mark Oaten, for a passengers' day of action against rail companies has been dismissed by WRUG.

Mr Wesley added: "I do not agree with the passengers boycotting the trains. Some people have no other option but to get the train to get to work and it just isn't constructive."

Some commuters are planning a day of protest on March 1, with travellers being urged to boycott trains to show their

frustration.