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Northern passengers face another 24-hour rail strike

Posted on - 24th April, 2017 - 7:00am | Author - | Posted in - Business, Politics, Preston News, Transport
Northern services are likely to be disrupted Pic: Alex Drennan
Northern services are likely to be disrupted Pic: Alex Drennan

Anyone getting the train on Friday is advised to plan extra time for their journey.

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Northern is facing a third 24-hour walk-out by staff in the ongoing dispute about guards on trains.

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The RMT Union has ordered a walkout during Friday 28 April which will affect hundreds of rail services.

Preston commuters are being told many trains will run but a reduced timetable is to be operated by Northern.

More than 40 per cent of services should run to normal time and the rail firm says it is putting on more than 300 additional rail replacement buses across the North of England.

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Regional director for Northern Sharon Keith said: “In advance of launching our full timetable via our website on Monday 24 April, we can now share the 55 routes that we will cover next Friday.

“To keep as many people on the move as possible, we are targeting available trains on our busiest routes and at peak times. The majority of trains will run between 7am and 7pm, with rail replacement buses on some routes where we unable to run trains. Customers need to plan carefully as services will start to wind down from late afternoon.”

Read more: Northern train has a bump at Preston Station

The full revised timetable is being made available on the Northern website during Monday (24 April).

Talks had been held between the RMT Union and Northern but the union’s executive decided to call a strike after ‘a lack of progress’.

Read more: How new look Northern trains may look

General secretary of the RMT Mick Cash said: “The public, who support RMT’s campaign for a guarantee of a guard on their trains, will be appalled that Arriva Rail North have failed to offer any kind of progress whatsoever in the talks and have instead opted to try and bulldoze through their plans regardless. It is that flagrant disregard for the safety issues at the heart of the dispute which leaves us with no option but to put on this further day of strike action.

“RMT commends our Arriva Rail North Members on their rock solid display of strength, resolve and unity during the action so far in opposition to the introduction of driver controlled operation and defence of the guards to guarantee a safer, securer and more accessible railway for all.

“The union continues to remain available for meaningful discussions with the company in order to seek a satisfactory resolution to the on-going dispute.”

Do you use Northern trains? What do you think about the strike and ongoing dispute? Let us know in the comments below

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