Strikes

RMT and ASLEF have called strikes because of a dispute over pay and terms and conditions.

Strike action will significantly impact our ability to run a train service, details of which will be available on northernrailway.co.uk/strikes 

Some stations will be affected by the strikes, including the facilities at those stations. We are advising people not to travel or attempt to go to the station on strike days.

If you have assistance booked please contact our passenger assist team to discuss or replan on 0800 138 5560 (Text Relay 18001 0800 138 5560) or visit the passenger assist page.

When strike action is called, Network Rail works with the train operators to develop a timetable with the available resource. This resource varies dependent on which unions are striking and which areas of the industry is impacted e.g., Network Rail staff, operators, drivers, conductors, engineers, station staff, depots etc.   

Network Rail coordinates the timetable development and advises train companies on how much of each operator's network can be used. This is based on what Network Rail calls the Key Route Strategy – routes linking the major cities and towns take precedence. Therefore, often long-distance train operators are more likely to run relatively more services than stopper services such as Northern.  

There will be no alternative transport in place on strike days.

Our advice is to only travel if necessary during dates impacted by strike action. Always check before travelling. 

If you have a ticket to travel on strike days:

• Ticket holders can get a fee-free refund or change the date of the ticket, for any train that is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled from that in published timetables on the days after you purchased a ticket via our refunds requests page. 
• If you have a ticket for the day(s) industrial action is taking place you can use the ticket for travel on specified alternative days (excludes London Underground).
• Season ticket refund, including flexi – You can get a refund on the portion of the season ticket not used, as per the standard refund policy through the season ticket compensation form more information on can be found on the season ticket strike calculator page.

If you have a return trip planned where the outward or return journey is affected by the strike action, you can claim a refund or compensation for the full journey. Visit our refunds page for more information.

We advise you to only travel if necessary during dates impacted by strike action as services will be significantly impacted, reduced or cancelled. Always check before travelling. 

If you decide to travel anyway and are delayed by 15mins or more you are entitled to delay repay compensation.

We advise you to only travel if necessary during the period that strike action is taking place, normal services will not be running. Expect severe delays if you do choose to travel.

If you have already purchased a ticket and your journey is affected by the industrial action, you can claim a full refund on unused tickets with no administration fee. 

If you have an Advance ticket, please travel as close as possible to the original day and time of travel as possible.

We continue to provide Passenger Assistance for all services which run, however, we expect trains to be very busy. Please follow the travel advice for the day of travel. 

No, the 'book with confidence' policy has now expired (30 November). From 1 December 2022 an administration fee may apply when Advance ticket customers choose to change the time of their journey.

Advance tickets will be non-refundable unless the booked service has been cancelled, delayed or rescheduled by the train operator for reasons such as disruption or strikes in which case refunds are available.  

Advance tickets are not available to buy for days impacted by strike action.