RAIL passengers face further disruption and long delays after talks to avert future strikes between First North Western and the train drivers' union failed to reach agreement.

Train bosses say they have made an improved offer to the union, Aslef.

But union representatives have indicated that it was unlikely to be acceptable to their executive committee.

Further 48-hour industrial action is proposed for September 10 and 11 -- making it the third strike by train drivers at First North Western this summer.

News that talks are unlikely to bring a solution to the dispute will be disheartening for travellers who will be forced to make alternative travel arrangements if the strikes go ahead.

Coaches and buses were run from Bolton's Trinity Street station on previous strike days, when only a handful of First North Western's 1,500 train services ran. Virtually all of the 660 train drivers who belong to Aslef went out on strike.

Vernon Barker, managing director of First North Western, said: "We would ask Aslef, for the sake of our customers, to suspend the proposed industrial action on September 10 and 11 and for their executive committee to consider our new offer very carefully.

"Our passengers have been understanding of the situation so far, and it is for their benefit that we want to see this dispute settled as soon as possible.

"The rail industry is collectively working hard to regain passenger confidence and the uncertainty the threat of industrial action is causing is only serving to undermine that work."

First North Western has offered the drivers a 19 per cent pay increase over three years. The latest improved offer includes bringing forward the date of the phased pay increase. Salaries were originally due to reach £28,000 by April 2004, but that will be brought forward to January 2004.