The latest 48-hour stoppage begins on 5 April

Union leaders have accused the company of treating workers with "contempt" following a recent announcement of a big increase in profits for Arriva's parent firm.

The latest Arriva stoppage comes after drivers with First North Western Trains and the Tyne & Wear Metro system took part in separate one-day strikes over pay on Tuesday.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said Arriva management had made little effort to resolve the long-running dispute over pay.

He said: "They handed shareholders a 5% rise but are still offering only 3% to the people who do the work and create the profits.

"It is about time the company started looking for ways to solve this dispute."

'Transform' services

A spokesman for Arriva Trains Northern said: "We shall again be running as many trains as possible including trains on some lines where we were previously unable to resource a service.

"We remain available for meaningful talks with the union so that we can to bring this dispute to an end."

Arriva has offered a 3% pay rise to RMT conductors plus 5% based on productivity.

The RMT says drivers have been given an 18% pay rise plus a Christmas bonus of �400 and pension improvements.

In March Arriva Trains Northern was fined �2m for poor performance in 2001.

Our bid focuses on the early delivery of new trains providing increased capacity and reduced journey times

Arriva chief executive Bob Davies

But now the company says it will "transform" existing services if its franchise is renewed.

It has promised a minimum of 55 new trains in two years from the start of the franchise in January 2003.

The existing Trans-Pennine Express services will be transformed to inter-city status, benefiting stations across the north of England.

Arriva chief executive Bob Davies said: "Our bid focuses on the early delivery of new trains providing increased capacity and reduced journey times.

"It also provides for station improvements, enhanced customer information and improved access to services."

New-look stations

Stations earmarked for upgrades include Tameside in Greater Manchester; Allerton near Liverpool's John Lennon Airport; Meadowhall in Sheffield and Penistone near Barnsley.

Meanwhile both sides involved in the Tyne & Wear Metro train drivers' dispute have said they are willing to go to independent arbitration to try to resolve the situation.

Metro operator Nexus has offered its drivers a 3.8% pay rise but the union says it will not settle for less than 5%.