HUGE profits announced by transport giant Arriva today enraged commuters as train conductors prepared to stage more lightning strikes.

Arriva's annual results, which reflect its bus businesses and European interests as well as its train service, show a pre-tax profit up by nine per cent over the year to £92 million - branded "obscene" by one angry passenger.

The results were bound to puzzle commuters who suffered so badly last October from reduced Arriva services because of a failed driver recruitment campaign for which the company had to publicly apologise.

Computer operator James Hayward, a regular Arriva commuter from Northallerton to York, said: "It's obscene. I can't understand how they can make so much money and yet not lay on enough trains. They have a timetable but not the trains to back it up, yet are rolling in it."

Although most of the services were re-instated last month, the company is only promising complete restoration of the service in June on completion of Railtrack's Leeds First infrastructure project.

Mark Russell, secretary of the York branch of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union representing the conductors, said: "Our members at Arriva Trains Northern were already in a determined mood. Now they will be outraged. A company making big league profits and paying fat dividends to shareholders should be ashamed of its insulting pay offer to the people who actually do the work.

"It's time for Arriva to pay up."

The 600 conductors have already announced a 24-hour stoppage on March 28 and two 48-hour strikes starting on April 5 and May 3 amid accusations of "bullying" by Arriva which is enforcing a blanket ban on overtime - a ban, which say the conductors, is causing more disruption.

The first stoppage will be the day before Good Friday.

An Arriva spokesman said: "The company is particularly disappointed that one of the strike days falls immediately before the first Bank Holiday of the year, when the region will be looking forward to a welcome boost in tourism."

Julian Evans, Arriva's director of corporate communications, said: "The financial results are good news for our shareholders, employees, customers and the wider community we serve."

He said last year Arriva had invested more than £100 million in its businesses and the company's strong balance sheet meant it could "play a significant role in developing quality public transport."

Earnings per share were up 17 per cent to 35.2 pence, turnover up 33 per cent to £231 million and a final dividend up by five per cent to 12.2p.

Updated: 15:58 Thursday, March 07, 2002