Passengers told to plan ahead in face of fresh wave of rail strikes
RAIL PASSENGERS have been warned to plan ahead before travelling today as the first of two 24hour walkouts is scheduled to take place.
The industrial action by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will affect Northern services today and on Monday.
It is the latest strike organised by the union as part of a long-running and bitter dispute about the future role of guards and driveronly trains.
Northern expects to run more than 900 services between 7am and 7pm on both strike days, with final services on some routes finishing before 7pm.
However, there will be replacement bus services only between Leeds and Selby as well as between Stalybridge and Huddersfield.
Sharon Keith, regional director of Northern, said: “Our priority is to keep customers informed and updated on both days of strike action as we try to keep the region moving.
“We have focused on ensuring our busier routes between major towns and cities maintain a good level of service throughout the day, while replacement bus services will be available on some routes where there are no trains.
“We are asking customers to plan ahead carefully and consider whether their journey needs to be made as all trains will be far busier than normal.”
Meanwhile, bus company Arriva has said it will accept train tickets for Northern services on the strike days. It means Northern customers can use Arriva services, including Yorkshire Tiger, for journeys that would otherwise have been made by train.
Ms Keith said offers to discuss future responsibilities and training for on-board colleagues had been rejected by the RMT, adding that the decision made by members to strike was “disappointing”.
But when the action was announced earlier this month, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said the company had failed to “face up to the facts”.