AN EAST Lancashire MP today called on Transport Secretary Stephen Byers to intervene and end the strikes which have brought misery to rail users for months.

Nigel Evans warned prolonged industrial action from 672 conductors of Arriva Trains Northern (ATN) and around 650 drivers of First North Western (FNW) would damage tourism and businesses.

Yesterday every train in East Lancashire was cancelled after strikes by the staff at the two companies coincided for the first time.

The conductors' 48-hour strike ends today . Drivers plan to walk out again at midnight on Monday. Both disputes are no nearer being resolved and industrial action looks likely again in the future. The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union has vowed to strike for 48 hours every month until pay terms are agreed.

Mr Evans, Tory MP for the Ribble Valley, said: "This is extremely serious and Byers must do something to stop it.

"The travelling public are suffering. It's going to damage business and tourism throughout the North West.

"This is just the latest of what is turning into an epidemic of rail strikes and Stephen Byers cannot stand by and do nothing."

ATN and the RMT are in dispute over a pay rise offer of three percent. Conductors feel they deserve more because drivers received an 18 percent rise on April 1.

Ray Price, managing director of Arriva Trains Northern, said the company had used ACAS to arbitrate in the matter, but to no avail.

"The RMT does not appear to understand the business," he said, "ATN is a subsidised business which relies on taxpayers' money. This has to be taken into account when considering any pay deals. If ATN gave into these unreasonable demands, the costs would be reflected in new rail franchises and would mean less money to invest in the services that are needed for the north of England."

But Bob Crow, the RMT Union's general secretary, said the company's behaviour had hardened members' determination to win a fair pay settlement.

"Our strike days so far have all been rock solid, and Arriva Trains Northern are fooling nobody when they say otherwise."

FNW and ASLEF are in dispute after a driver was sacked for going through two red lights and speeding. FNW management say they had to dismiss the driver to maintain safety, but ASLEF representatives claim the company is abusing disciplinary procedures.