A ‘perfect storm’ of bus and rail strikes could cause commuter chaos this week.

Bus drivers from two Manchester operators will walk out, with train staff also planning to take action.

Wednesday could bring transport chaos throughout the area as there will be an Arriva strike alongside those on Merseyrail and Northern Rail.

Northern Rail has said ticket holders can board Arriva buses - but this now will not be possible for many passengers.

And on top of Wednesday’s disruption, drivers from both Arriva’s Wythenshawe and Bolton branches and First’s Rusholme depot will take action during every Monday in November.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

The bus disputes are over pay, while rail staff are disputing plans for driver-only trains.

Unite and GMB members at Arriva say they deserve an above-inflation pay rise and that Arriva’s offers so far have been too low. But Arriva has insisted that its pay offers have been fair.

John Broughton, Unite regional officer for Arriva, said: “As a consequence we had a ballot for action and as a consequence Monday will now be the fourth day fo action.

“We met with the company last Thursday, they made an offer but it wasn’t a substantial offer we could take back to our members.”

Following action on Monday, he said the silence from Arriva had been ‘deafening’, adding: “It’s disappointing the company has not taken the opportunity to try and get back round the table to resolve the dispute before we take action next week,”

(Image: Mark Waugh)

Arriva strike action across the north-west will involve more than 2,000 drivers. Meanwhile, First Bus drivers are also due to strike on Monday.

Taken over by First from Finglands in 2013, Rusholme staff are based just five miles away from those working from the Queen’s Road depot.

However, there is a £5,000 pay gap. Unite the union has described the anomaly as ‘glaring and unjust’- and argues that when First took over the Rusholme depot in 2013, bosses promised parity.

Neil Clarke, Unite regional officer, said: “For four years First Manchester has repeated that pay will be harmonised, but it has always been jam tomorrow – and now our members are fed up with dry bread and the bosses’ stale words.

“The Rusholme drivers do exactly the same job with the same commitment to passenger safety as their colleagues across Greater Manchester – and when they are driving within the city centre, they are even overlapping on the same routes.

“This is a glaring injustice that needs to be rectified urgently by the company which is part of one of Europe’s biggest and most profitable bus groups.

(Image: PA)

First staff also walked out in October over pay.

Mr Clarke added: “While we appreciate that the 24 hour strikes on Mondays during October and planned throughout November are inconvenient for the travelling public, I am sure people understand the anger that the drivers feel being paid nearly £5,000 less a year than their colleagues doing the same job a few miles away. This dispute is about natural justice.

“We are seeking talks with the management with a view to getting a copper-bottomed guarantee that pay harmonisation will be introduced by regular increments as soon as possible.”

The drivers, with 96 per cent of members voting for strike action, have already taken three 24-hour strikes, with the next one due on November 6.

There are also walk-outs planned for November 13, 20 and 27.

The M.E.N has contacted First and Arriva for comment.