ARRIVA today announced plans to buy 55 new high speed trains - if it wins the flagship Trans-Pennine Express franchise.

The company was submitting its bid for the route - which takes passengers from York to Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool - to the Strategic Rail Authority.

It said that if it succeeded, it would invest £275 million in the new trains, which would feature more spacious seats which would also fold away at busy times.

It would also introduce faster services with reduced journey times and create nearly 250 new jobs.

lThe RMT union has announced a further 48-hour strike on Arriva Trains Northern this Friday and Saturday, saying the company had refused to budge from a three per cent pay offer.

Updated: 15:15 Wednesday, April 03, 2002