RAIL passengers were last night facing yet more misery after train conductors voted overwhelmingly for strike action.

Staff at Arriva Trains Northern will stage two potentially crippling 48-hour walk-outs on January 24 and 25 and February 5 and 6 in a dispute over pay.

The strikes called by the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union could hit up to 1,600 daily services across the region.

It had balloted its members following the collapse of talks aimed at closing the pay gap between guards and drivers.

The announcement coincided with news of further strikes by RMT members working for South West Trains, who have been offered a 7.6 per cent pay increase in a bid to end their dispute.

Last night, Sunderland- based Arriva said it was disappointed by the result of the strike ballot which saw 429 staff voting for action compared to 28 against, but would continue to be available for talks.

Passenger groups called for a speedy end to the dispute, fearing further chaos on the railways.

And industry sources claimed RMT chiefs were "clearly spoiling for a fight".

Arriva Trains Northern, which operates the Trans Pennine service between Newcastle, York and Manchester, has already been forced to cut hundreds of trains from its timetable because of a driver shortage.

Its drivers have accepted a pay increase from £23,776 to £28,000 offered by the company in a bid to prevent approaches from other higher- paying operators.

Conductors now want to see their £15,500 salary boosted by £6,500, but their demands have so far been rejected.

Craig Johnston, of the RMT's regional office in York, said: "They have totally misjudged the mood of our members who have voted overwhelmingly for strike action.

"We are, though, fully aware of the disruption already suffered by passengers and are still prepared to listen to any new offers from the company."