Passengers face more cancelled services

The company says it will not meet "unrealistic demands".

Steve Coe, negotiations officer for the TSSA, said the union had been trying to resolve the pay dispute for more than 18 months.

Mr Coe said: "Arriva is one of the lowest payers of station workers among all the train operators.

"Drivers have been awarded an 18% increase in line with other train companies, and the TSSA believes that other staff should be given a similar increase."

The TSSA wants a pay rise of between 25 to 31%.

'Meaningful talks'

A spokesman for Arriva Trains Northern said: "The unions representing these staff intend to take action again on 1 May and 2 May.

"On these days many ticket offices will not open and customers are advised to purchase tickets from ticket machines at stations or from the conductor on the train.

"We remain available for meaningful talks with the unions on a realistic pay settlement which is in the long-term interest of our customers, employees and the company."

A spokesman for the RMT said Arriva Trains Northern had "done little" to resolve the long-running pay dispute.

The union says conductors deserve a similar pay rise to that given to drivers.

An Arriva spokesman said: "We would like to assure our customers that we will provide the highest possible level of service during the next proposed strike by conductors on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 May."