EAST Lancashire's rail network was returning to normal today after crippling Christmas and New Year strikes by the area's two rail companies.

First North Western (FNW) drivers and Arriva Trains Northern (ATN) conductors are both in dispute with their employers over pay. The strikes, which ended yesterday, coincided on several days over the festive period to leave East Lancashire without any train services.

FNW runs the East Lancashire line from Preston to Colne and Clitheroe to Manchester, while ATN runs the TransPennine Express through Burnley, Accrington and Blackburn. The RMT Union is representing the conductors, with ASLEF being for the drivers. Further strikes are expected in 2003 as the disputes have already been ongoing for almost a year without much indication of reconciliation.

Ray Price, managing director of ATN, called for an end to the dispute and said: "Over the past 11 months we have made four different offers to the union, all of which have been rejected by the RMT without it allowing its members the opportunity to ballot.

"It remains increasingly difficult to understand what the RMT's agenda really is. Clearly, we are very disappointed that the union has decided to hit what is undoubtedly one of the most important times in the year for so many people."