We aim to hit them in the pocket, and hit them hard

Steve Coe, TSSA

TSSA announced its members working for Arriva would stage three 24-hour walkouts starting on Monday.

Negotiations officer Steve Coe said the action was aimed at targeting the company's finances rather than passengers.

"We aim to hit them in the pocket, and hit them hard," he said.

TSSA members will walkout on 25 and 26 April and the 1, 2, 30 and 31 May.

Members of the RMT are due to strike on 3 and 4 May as part of the same dispute.

Independent review

Members of the drivers' union Aslef who work for First North Western were due to stage three 24-hour walkouts, starting next Monday, in a row over the disciplining of union members.

The drivers have already held three strikes, which crippled the company's services across the North West of England.

But an agreement on disciplinary procedures was reached on Friday.

The cases of four drivers at the centre of the dispute will go to an independent review, said a spokesman for Aslef.

"We are pleased that this dispute has now been resolved without the need for further strike action," he said.

"We hope that the lessons learned about the need for fairness and justice in disciplinary procedures will be noted throughout the industry."