Train services in northern England could be brought to a complete standstill after two rail unions agreed to co-ordinate strike action.

Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are to stage a 48-hour stoppage on 1 and 2 March.

Members of the two unions are in dispute with managers at Arriva Trains Northern over different levels of pay being offered within the company.

Everyone from guards to ticket office staff and clerical workers will walk out together - potentially bringing the whole network to a halt.

'Total shutdown'

Steve Coe, the negotiating officer from the TSSA, told BBC Radio Newcastle, the strike is intended to stop managers running even a skeleton service on strike days.

"We've discussed this with the RMT. Their view was that the company was trying to circumvent the action by running some services on the day of the strike.

"Their feeling was by bringing all their members out together the company would be faced with a total shutdown.

"That is something we agree with."

Pay disparity

The strike by TSSA members will be the first for 30 years after they voted overwhelmingly on Monday to carry out strike action.

They said it highlighted problems across the whole rail industry of disparity in pay between staff - in particular the much higher settlement being made to train drivers

TSSA members voted 87% in favour of strike action on a turnout of 60%.

The ballot covered clerical and supervisory staff working in stations, ticket offices and some support departments.