PASSENGERS were facing fresh misery last night ahead of renewed strike action on Arriva Trains Northern services.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) which represents station and retail staff announced a series of strike dates in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Its members at Arriva Trains Northern will stage three 48-hour walkouts on April 25 and 26, May 1 and 2, and May 30 and 31.

Conductors at the company are already due to strike on May 3 and 4 in their bid for improved pay.

TSSA said its aim was to target the company's finances rather than inconvenience passengers.

Ticket offices will close, hitting revenue, according to negotiations officer Steve Coe.

"We aim to hit them in the pocket, and hit them hard," he said.

Arriva said customers would still be able to buy tickets on trains, at automatic ticket machines and at stations staffed by other operators.

It claimed TSSA members were asking for basic pay rises of between 25 and 31 per cent.

Managing director Ray Price said: "We do not believe that the unions' current expectations for station and retail staff are realistic. We apologise in advance to any customers who may experience some inconvenience, however we will be endeavouring to operate a full level of service.