Northern Trains strike action latest asRMT confirm strikes across network will go ahead next week

Train company Northern, which operates services in and around Manchester, has issued a statement on upcoming RMT train strikes. The union has confirmed strikes next week will go ahead.

RMT members are set to strike on March 16 and 18. Further strike action is also planned for March 30 and April 1.

Yesterday (March 8) the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) invited the RMT to discussions on the current dispute but on the condition that the planned strike action on 16 and 18 March is suspended. The RMT NEC has decided that the scheduled action will remain in place but that the union will be available for discussions and will attend any meetings on creating a resolution to the dispute through an improved offer.

Despite suspending action by their members working for Network Rail, the RMT strike for members working for train operators, including Northern, remains in place. Northern will run an amended strike timetable on the affected days, with a 12-hour operation on selected routes from 7am to 7pm.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “We’re expecting the skeleton services we can run to be very busy – so customers should plan ahead and check before they travel. Given the reduced timetable only runs until 7pm, I’m very keen to stress that people should check their ‘last train home’ on those dates – so that customers don’t find themselves stranded at the wrong end of the line as a result of this action by the RMT.”