Thousands of commuters took to their cars, despite warnings of snow hazards later today, after Arriva Trains Northern was only able to run one in ten of scheduled services.
The 48-hour walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, is over what union chiefs have called a "massive" difference in wage rates between train drivers and other rail staff.
The prime minister, Tony Blair, today ducked questions about the dispute when he opened the new wing of a community college in County Durham, Northern Ireland.
Rail turmoil is expected to spread across the country in coming weeks, as other unrelated disputes reach boiling point.
Connex, which runs trains into London from south-east England, has offered staff a 4.8% pay rise over 12 months in a bid to avert another strike. RMT leaders will consider the offer next week, before deciding whether to accept or ballot members for industrial action.
Train drivers on ScotRail are due to vote on a 24-hour walkout, as part of an ongoing dispute to win pay parity with train drivers in other regions.
The RMT is also to ballot workers on Silverlink Trains, which runs services from London to the Midlands, and staff on the London Docklands Light Railway. Union members on the London Underground are involved in a separate pay dispute.
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