A TRAIN company which runs trans-Pennine services across East Lancashire is to restore a full timetable -- four months after it hit the buffers in a driver crisis.

Arriva Trains Northern had to withdraw some trains and introduce a temporary timetable in October last year as it trained new staff.

But the company still faces two days of strike action next month by conductors who are members of the RMT transport union.

Arriva, which claimed its shortage of drivers was inherited, cut 10 per cent of its services to cope. Previously, passengers had suffered last-minute cancellations.

Ray Price, Arriva Trains Northern managing director, said: "It takes 12 months to train a driver and Arriva has conducted one of the largest driver recruitment and training campaigns ever seen in the industry.

"With more and more drivers completing their 12-month training programme we have been able to meet our target date and keep our promise to restore ther vast majority of services for our customers by the end of the month.

"Over the past four months we have been carefully planning, taking account of new drivers coming through our driving schooll, to ensure that services could be restored in a sustainable way."

He added: "We would like to thank our customers for their patience and reassure them that we are committed to planning and delivering robust train services both now and in the future."

All local train services in the North West will be restored, but some of its Yorkshire-based routes will not operate until June.

Meanwhile, conductors belonging to RMT are set to strike on March 1 and 2 in the next in a series of two-day stoppages over pay. They want percentage rises in line with drivers.

Arriva runs services from Blackpool to Scarborough via Preston, Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley.