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By Bob Walker, our reporter

Rail travellers are bracing themselves for yet more disruption as the wave of industrial action spreads to the North of England.

Commuters on South West Trains are already facing a third 48-hour stoppage on January 24 and 25. A pay dispute has twice halted 80 per cent of services on the country's busiest commuter routes.

The company offered the RMT a 7.6% pay increase to try to end the action, announcing the offer at a press conference on Tuesday.

But the RMT furiously rebuffed it and expressed outrage that the company had made the offer through the press and not approached it directly.

It said the management had been "arrogant and belligerent" in trying to impose a settlement.

Now Arriva Trains Northern, which operates routes throughout the north, is likely to be hit by strikes on January 24 and February 5 after an overwhelming 15-1 vote by RMT staff in favour of industrial action. Guards and conductors with Arriva are seeking pay parity with drivers.

Ray Brown, deputy chairman of the Rail Passengers Committee for the North-East said the action would dismay travellers who were already suffering cancellations brought on by staff shortages and delays caused by the refurbishment of Leeds station.