THE boss of a train company besieged by strikes has said the only way to end the dispute may be for conductors to cross the picket line.

Euan Cameron, managing director of Arriva Trains PLC, also admitted that the company was putting pressure on workers to discourage them from industrial action.

Arriva and the RMT Union are still deadlocked, despite almost nine months of negotiations and strikes planned until December.

Today, conductors walked out for the 15th time this year, forcing the cancellation of the TransPennine Express through Preston, Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley. Passengers will experience repeated travel misery on Saturday when conductors strike again.

During the last 48-hour strike in July, 70 of Arriva's 672 conductors crossed the picket line and returned to work. They had accepted a four per cent pay rise which Arriva bosses offered to them independently, after the RMT Union refused to put it to a ballot as they are demanding a 10 per cent rise.

Mr Cameron said management at Arriva were hoping more workers would begin to work on strike days and force the end of the dispute. "The RMT has set dates until December 31 and we think the conductors are fed up. Ten per cent of the conductors have already come back to work.

"Others will when they find out that the RMT has thrown out a very good offer which would put an extra £1,000 in their pay packets. I am convinced more will come back. Our biggest hope is to negotiate a settlement, but we are also looking to bring more conductors back to work."

He admitted that Arriva had banned conductors who strike from working overtime on their rest days.

"We are putting pressure on conductors," he said. "There is no way they should be able to take a day off in a strike and then make up the pay with overtime. That's not the way to get a resolution to a dispute.

"Agreeing to the demand of 10 per cent would be a waste of taxpayers' money. It's never that simple to just give them more money."

Mr Cameron also defended the performance of Arriva and claimed customers thought the company was doing a lot of things right.

"On non-strike days, on the other 29 days of the month, we provide a good service," he said. "I'm not worried about our image because People know we are doing the right thing.

"Arriva has employed 100 more staff since we took over and that's where investment should go, not in a 10 per cent pay award."

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said: "The company should understand that their bullying tactics will only strengthen our members' resolve. The company can settle the dispute easily by offering a just pay increase."