RAIL passengers faced fresh travel chaos today when Arriva conductors began a further 48-hour strike over their pay offer.

Arriva Trains Northern (ATN) lost two-thirds of its services through the disruption, which followed a similar strike two weeks ago.

Mark Russell, RMT York branch secretary, joined a small contingent of conductor pickets at York Station. He said: "We are hoping the bosses will listen to us. We don't want to inconvenience the public. This is the last resort."

Commuters forced to drive to York station for connecting mainline trains filled the station car park by 8am.

GNER customer services staff were on hand to advise people of other car parks, including Queen Street, Leeman Road, Skeldergate, Nunnery Lane and Clifford's Tower. But Queen Street and Nunnery Lane were almost full by 8.30am.

Susan Harris had to travel in by car from Harrogate to catch her GNER train to London. She said: "I got here early because I knew I might find parking a problem.

"It is inconvenient but I agree there needs to be a fairness in pay for train workers."

An hourly service to Manchester Piccadilly was running out of York railway station until 5.20pm today and one early morning commuter train to Hull ran this morning. One train to Scarborough was expected to run at tea-time.

Buses, used during Arriva's temporary timetable of the winter months, continued to operate.

An Arriva statement said: "After having discussions with the RMT throughout last week and over the weekend, Arriva Trains Northern regrets that agreement has not been reached on the current dispute.

"ATN considers it has made a fair offer. ATN apologises to its customers for the inconvenience this further strike will cause."

Full train service details are available via ATN customer relations on 0870 602 3322, National Rail Enquiries on 08456 484950 and at www.arriva.co.uk

Updated: 11:00 Tuesday, February 05, 2002