A TRAIN company which has suffered through strikes and personnel shortages is to embark on a goodwill tour aimed at winning over members of the public to rail travel.

Staff at Arriva Trains Northern have been signed up by bosses to tour shopping centres, community events and shows during the summer to encourage more people to travel by train.

The company, which runs about 1,400 services across the North of England, will be taking its roadshow to a number of towns and cities including Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Darlington and Durham.

Arriva has been slowly turning things around after two years in which its timetable was reduced because of a shortage of train drivers.

It also grappled with a year-long conductors' strike which was finally resolved in January.

Dyan Crowther, Arriva Trains Northern's commercial director, said: "Unfortunately, some people have a very negative perception of rail travel.

"But the reality of the experience for the vast majority of our 100,000-plus customers each day is now one of a reliable and punctual service.

"Through the roadshow, we want to show that rail is an option people should consider for both business and leisure travel.

"We will be handing out information on the wide range of services we operate, as well as details on our exciting campaigns which offer great savings for our customers."