RAIL commuters face a second day of disruption on the trains tomorrow.

Hundreds of First TransPennine Express drivers are set to stage a second 24-hour strike from midnight in a dispute over pay.

It follows a strike by about 300 drivers, members of Aslef, yesterday which hit services between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester.

And there were added problems for Huddersfield rail passengers yesterday because of a signalling fault.

That disrupted Northern Rail services in and out of the town for some hours, with delays on the Penistone Line and to Wakefield.

FTPE will again operate an amended timetable and a reduced number of services tomorrow.

The company claimed it had kept its customers moving and kept disruption on main routes to a minimum yesterday due to a “united effort” by FTPE’s customer service staff and managers.

FTPE said it had been able to run about 25% of its 290 daily services under the amended plan.

Most trains ran at double capacity – using six carriages instead of the normal three – while replacement buses ran on some routes where trains were missing.

Tomorrow’s action is likely to hit music fans heading to the Leeds Festival.

FTPE managing director Vernon Barker said: “We are very sorry and disappointed that we are in this position. Industrial action does not benefit anyone least of all our customers.

“We recognise that we have not been able to provide our normal level of service.

“However, I’m pleased that we have been able to keep customers moving.”

Commuters hit by yesterday’s strike action told of delays.

Student Ali Ryland, 19, of Holmfirth said: “I have been delayed coming back from a friend’s house in Manchester.

“When I got down to Piccadilly at 10.20am there were no trains running to Huddersfield, I was told I needed to go to Victoria to get a train.

“I finally got there at 11.27, which means I arrived in Huddersfield an hour late at 12.20. The delays have been annoying.”

Ashley Smith, an ex-Huddersfield University student, was held up coming from Leeds.