Strike affecting rail services

Photo: RS Greenwood

Rochdale train station

Northern is running a reduced timetable due to strike action by guards and drivers with 40% of services operating. The firm is running 300 rail replacement bus services.

The 24 hour strike is over the role of guards, which has put the company at loggerheads with unions.

Richard Allan, Deputy Managing Director at Northern, said: “We are acutely aware of the important role that Northern plays in keeping the north of England moving, we would ask for your patience, and ask all our customers to individually take time to consider whether your journey is necessary and if it is, please plan carefully.”

RMT union General Secretary Mick Cash said: “The union’s position on Driver Only Operation (DOO) is perfectly clear. We will not agree to any extensions of DOO and will fight to retain the safety critical role of the guard and to keep a guard on the train. The company have been made well aware of that."

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UPDATE

Paul Barnfield, Regional Director at Northern, said: “By 12.30pm, 448 trains had arrived at their destinations, helping customers get to work in major towns and cities across the North. Our plan is working well and we have even been able to run a few more morning rush hour trains than originally planned.

“We are now concentrating efforts on getting people home this evening. We urge everyone wanting to travel home today to think now about their return journey. Services on many routes will start to wind down from mid-afternoon onwards, with very few trains running after 5pm this evening.

“On behalf of Northern I would like to thank our customers for working with us today and altering their travel plans. I would also like to thank all of our people who have worked so hard to run our trains today.”