LAST ditch efforts to avert a 24-hour train strike on one of the busiest weekends of April have failed.

Bosses from Arriva Rail North today met with representatives of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union.

But a bid to find a breakthrough in the bitter dispute over driver-only trains - which has caused travel misery for tens of thousands of passengers – broke down.

Arriva Rail North operates the Northern franchise which is responsible for a number of services across Cumbria.

Richard Allan, Deputy Managing Director of Arriva Rail North, said: "If we are to modernise and give our customers the improvements they've been asking for we have to change the way we work, just like any other business or industry.

"Our employees also want us to talk about changes we need to make to the on-board role as we modernise our railway.

"We believe we would keep a second person on many of our services and, at some locations, we may choose to staff the station to give better support to customers. In addition to protecting jobs and current pay, we are also willing to offer future annual pay reviews for existing conductors if we can agree a deal with RMT.

"It is hugely disappointing that the union is making demands rather than working alongside us in developing our plans to modernise local rail services in the North."

The company is considering removing guards from many of its services, a move which the RMT claims is unsafe and will cost livelihoods.

Northern Rail is urging commuters to plan rail journeys carefully at the weekend as it prepares to operate just 32 per cent of its normal services during a day of industrial action.

Staff will strike from 00.01 on Saturday April 8.

Passengers heading from Cumbria to the Grand National at Aintree have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

A full timetable of services is available online at www.northernrailway.co.uk/industrial-action