The stoppage involved 300 members of the moderate Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, which is staging its first strike in 30 years, and members of the RMT union. It will be intensified today when 670 RMT conductors stage another 24 hour walkout.
While the company, which operates throughout the north-east, Yorkshire and across the Pennines, says it is attempting to run full services, unions claimed thousands of passengers will be travelling free - further undermining the position of Arriva.
Earlier this week the company was fined £2m by the strategic rail authority for cancelling scores of services. It was also warned not to poach drivers from other companies to solve its staff shortages, which have led to many service cancellations leaving passengers stranded. The authority has threatened Arriva with further fines if it fails to train enough drivers.
Stan Herschel, the RMT's regional organiser, said: "My understanding is that on the busiest routes, such as York to Leeds, Arriva will not be taking any revenue. While the impact on commuters will be negligible, there will be a financial impact for the company."
Ray Price, Arriva Trains Northern's managing director, yesterday accused the strikers of asking for an "unreasonable" 31% rise. The unions say their claim brings them into line with pay for staff at other rail companies.
Defending their action, the TSSA said some of its counter clerks were earning as little as £12,500 annually. A spokesman said: "We are a moderate union, and our members join us because they do not like industrial action, but Arriva have not been able to offer anything significant."
In a statement last night, Arriva said it had made its conductors a "fair and reasonable" offer of a basic 3%, plus 5% productivity.
