Misery for rail and bus passengers

Arriva Northumbria bus depots are at a standstill

Thousands of bus and train passengers across the north of England are stranded as Arriva workers carry out strike action.

Bus depots in Northumberland and Newcastle are shut, with drivers, engineers, and cleaning staff on strike over pay.

The bus strike coincides with a stoppage by 700 Arriva Trains Northern conductors across the north of England.

Their industrial action is also being staged to try and force an improved pay offer.

This is our first day of action in almost 20 years, so let's keep things in perspective

Brian Anderson, T&G

The train company says more than half its services are running but the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union says only one in four trains are running.

Union bosses say the rail and bus disputes are not connected and that it is a coincidence the two walk-outs are taking place on the same day.

Talking about the Northumbria bus strike, Arriva Operations Director Ian McInroy said: "We are not running any services today unfortunately.

"I would like to apologise sincerely for the inconvenience this has caused our customers."

Revised deal

Mr McInroy said the only service running was a shuttle bus service between Ashington and Wansbeck Hospitals.

Brian Anderson, union regional industrial organiser with the T&G, represents 450 bus workers.

He said: "Our disagreement is not with the public. We know the public will be affected but you can't put the blame solely at our feet.

Brian Anderson: "No dispute with public"

"We are not responsible for the trains, we are responsible for the buses.

"This is our first day of action in almost 20 years, so let's keep things in perspective."

Members of the T&G had rejected the first 3% pay rise offer and instead demanded an increase to take all drivers to £7 an hour.

A revised, two-year pay deal was put to staff, but was also rejected.

The RMT is planning further stoppages throughout the rest of the year after rejecting a 4% pay offer.

Ray Price, managing director of Arriva Trains Northern, has called on the union to hold a fresh ballot of its members.

He warned that conductors would lose £2,500 each if they joined all the strikes.