Northern releases timetables for day of industrial action

The train operator expects to run approximately 980 services, or around 40 per cent of its normal timetable, carrying more than 100,000 customers across many but not all of its routes in the North of England.

Northern expects all services to be extremely busy and customers are advised to give themselves extra time to travel and consider whether their journey is necessary.

Richard Allan, Deputy Managing Director at Northern, said: “We have focused our planning efforts on maintaining a train service on our busier routes between 7am and 7pm, and are looking to provide replacement bus services on some routes where trains won’t run.

“We are acutely aware of the important role that Northern plays in keeping the north of England moving, would ask for your patience on Monday, and ask all our customers to individually take time to consider whether your journey is necessary and if it is, please plan carefully.”

Northern has more than 100 trained managers and other colleagues who will be carrying out some conductor duties to operate the revised timetable following the decision by the RMT union to hold a strike by Northern conductors on 13 March.

Full details of the revised timetables and supporting information for customers can be found on the Northern website and we expect to have details of any rail replacement buses later this week. We will have people out across the network during the coming week to assist customers and answer any questions they might have.

Information will also be displayed on posters at all stations across our network and on customer information screens where available.

The planned industrial action comes at a time when Northern is embarking on a journey to modernise its network by 2020.

This modernisation programme will see the introduction of 281 new carriages, 243 upgraded trains, 2,000 extra services each week and better stations across the network.

Richard Allan added: “Modernising the train journey of our customers means we have to make changes. We want to involve everyone as we develop our plans, from our customers and communities, to employees and their trade unions.

“Our proposals are still in the early stages, so it is disappointing that RMT is taking strike action on Monday 13 March, because there is lots of time to talk and agree how we  modernise the way we provide customer service. As part of our proposals we are prepared to offer guarantees on jobs and pay to our people.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

For full details of rail services operating during the strike and for FAQs about Northern's response to the industrial action please check our website.