STRIKING rail workers will head for York Station tomorrow in their bid to bring "maximum disruption" to bus and train operator Arriva.

Leaders of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) hope more than 100 disgruntled conductors will turn out in a demonstration to mark the first day of a 48-hour dispute with Arriva Trains Northern.

RMT assistant general secretary Bob Crow is to travel up from London to give his support to the strikers.

The union also believes six MPs will make the journey from the capital to show their solidarity.

The strike, which will severely affect Arriva services across North Yorkshire, has been demanded by conductors furious at large pay rises given to drivers, which have not been offered to them.

The RMT has decided to focus its picket at York Station to embarrass Arriva into taking its strike action seriously.

The picket also aims to increase support for the conductors' stance.

Union chiefs have confirmed there will be no attempt to stop passengers boarding the limited services Arriva will be providing tomorrow and on Friday.

RMT regional organiser Allen Heath said: "York is an extremely important railway centre. What better place to hold our demonstration?"

The Evening Press understands that union representatives will meet Arriva bosses next week to resume talks aimed at averting further industrial action. The next planned strike would be on February 5 and 6.

GNER bosses have pledged to keep the station open and unobstructed for passengers.

Company spokesman David Mallender said: "We will be running our normal service and are asking people to check their travel arrangements before they travel. We will aim to have the station open and make sure our passengers can travel unimpeded."

Malton-based coach firm Yorkshire Coastliner hopes it can put on extra buses for its 30-minute frequency service from Scarborough, through York, to Leeds.

Julian Evans, Arriva director of corporate communications, said: "We would regard any action taken by the RMT as intolerable for our customers."

A poll from the passenger campaigning site Arrivasucks.com indicates that 39 per cent of respondents plan to take the day off work while the strike takes place. Taking the bus accounts for 42 per cent of survey participants, while only five per cent said they would use their cars.

GNER services running from London to York faced major disruption today after a warehouse caught fire near rail lines close to the capital.

The incident stopped East Coast Main Line services leaving London and caused delays for passengers travelling North.

Passengers at Kings Cross were being placed on buses to Stevenage, where GNER trains were turning round and travelling back to the North.

The same was true for York passengers travelling to London.

Mr Mallender said: "There have been no trains leaving London since 10am. This seems to be a major fire."

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Updated: 14:26 Wednesday, January 23, 2002