STRIKE-hit train company Arriva has angered union members by posting a nine per cent rise in pre-tax profits and increasing its annual payout to shareholders.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has called for fresh strikes against the Sunderland company.

Arriva said its rail division achieved operating profits of £11.5m, compared with break-even last time. That contributed to pre-tax profits before exceptional items of £92m as Arriva also lifted its total dividend payout by five per cent to 16.4p a share.

The company defended its financial position and described its three per cent pay offer and five per cent productivity-linked increase as "fair and reasonable".

A spokesman said the company was disappointed the unions had agreed to further industrial action: "We believe their demands are unrealistic."

Arriva Trains Northern is set to be hit by a 24-hour walkout on March 28 and 48-hour stoppages on April 5 and 6 and May 4 and 5.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said: "Our members at Arriva 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 offer to the people who actually do the work. It is time for Arriva to pay up."

The rise in profits at its UK trains business comes after the company revised financial terms with the Strategic Rail Authority.

But the division inherited a shortage of train drivers and was recently forced to scale back timetables. Yesterday, it said the majority of services had been restored after one of the biggest recruitment campaigns seen in the industry.

About 120 new drivers went through the 12-month training process last year, while another 170 are expected to complete it this year.

Arriva said the short-term nature of its franchises had also created difficulties.

Bus operations provided the backbone of the group, with operating profits broadly unchanged at £68.4m. The rise in turnover to £548.6m from £520.5m was offset by higher labour and insurance costs.

The company also operates a UK motor franchise network which lifted operating profits to £9.5m from £7m last time.