ARRIVA Trains Northern faced renewed criticism last night ahead of a third 48-hour rail strike.

RMT union regional organiser Stan Herschel said the company had behaved "disgracefully" in its dealings with members during the dispute.

Conductors will again walk out today and tomorrow, hitting scheduled services.

They are being joined by station and retail staff, represented by the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA).

Mr Herschel said: "Each time we have taken a step forward we have been forced by the company to take two back. As a result, we again expect almost 100 per cent solid support."

RMT picket lines will be at York station and Newcastle, where general secretary Bob Crow will join the action.

Both unions are bidding to narrow the pay gap between train drivers and their members. The RMT is asking for a basic 9.7 per cent increase for conductors, while the TSSA is seeking a basic rise of between 25 and 31 per cent.

In a statement, Arriva Trains Northern said it regretted the action, but would "not concede to unrealistic claims" when it had made a number of reasonable offers.

The latest stoppage will see about 40 per cent of Arriva services in the region running. Management staff in some cases have had training to take up replacement roles on affected routes.

* The following train services will run today and tomorrow:

Half hourly services: Leeds-Manchester Piccadilly.

Hourly services: Skipton-Leeds; Bradford Forster Square-Leeds; Ikley-Leeds; Micklefield- Leeds will operate an hourly service during peak times and two hourly in between Sheffield-Leeds via Barnsley; Sheffield-Doncaster; York-Manchester Piccadilly; Hull-Manchester Piccadilly; Hull-Doncaster; Hull-Bridlington will operate an hourly service with additional services between Hull and Beverley during peak hours; Newcastle-Hexham will operate an hourly service which will be extended to Haltwhistle during peak times.

Two-hourly services: Morpeth-Newcastle (a bus service will operate from Chathill to Morpeth during peak times); Darlington-Saltburn via Middlesbrough; Leeds-Knaresborough via Harrogate; Scarborough-Leeds via York; Hull-York; Doncaster-Leeds; Cleethorpes-Doncaster is a two-hourly service and will be extended to Sheffield during peak times. Peak times: Durham-Newcastle; Middlesbrough-Whitby (school train will run today only); Retford-Sheffield.