Northern warns customers to expect more disruption due to strikes next week

Northern has warned its customers across the North of England ‘Do Not Travel’ during the RMT strikes next week.

The two 48-hour walk-outs, which will take place on December 13-14 and 16-17, coupled with the knock-on impact on December 15 in-between the strikes, means an effective five-day travel ban for rail users.

During this period, all but a handful of services will be cancelled – and the vast majority of the train operator’s 500+ stations will be closed.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “This is the last thing we want to do in the run-up to Christmas, but with the RMT pressing ahead with these 48-hour strikes, we have no option but to advise customers not to travel.

"We can only apologise once again for the disruption their action will cause.”

Routes that will have services running – hourly between 7.30am and 6.30pm – include:

Liverpool to Manchester Airport

Leeds to Sheffield via Wakefield Westgate

Leeds to York via Micklefield

Leeds to Bradford Forster Square

Leeds to Skipton

Leeds to Ilkley

Customers should check before they travel if planning to use one of these skeleton services.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with nearly 2,000 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.

On Sunday (December 11), Northern’s new timetable comes into effect and all customers, especially those who have made regular journeys on the same train times, are advised to check online journey planners before they travel to ensure their service operates at the same time and calls at the same stations.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.