Rail passengers in Leeds warned of strike disruption

Rail passengers across Leeds are preparing for major disruption - as staff at Northern Rail take part in a 24 hour walk-out.

Members of the RMT are taking the strike action over proposed changes to the role of guards.

Northern said it will be running around 40% of its services, 980 trains, between 7am and 7pm.

Tickets will also be accepted on all Arriva Bus services on the day - members of the RMT union are taking the action over plans to bring in more driver-only-operated trains.

In a statement the firm have told us...

Sharon Keith, Regional Director for Northern, said:

“Our aim is to deliver a public transport service for as many people as possible on Monday as we know Northern plays a key role in keeping the north of England moving.

“We expect all services, rail and bus, to be extremely busy and ask for customers’ patience on Monday. We would also ask customers to take time to consider whether journeys are necessary and, if they are, to plan carefully.

“As with the rail timetable, we have focused our planning efforts on providing a service between 7am and 7pm. And we have sought to provide an additional transport option for customers on the busiest routes that did not benefit from a rail service in the revised timetable.”

Full details of the rail and rail replacement timetables can be found on the Northern website – northernrailway.co.uk/industrialaction. The website also contains supporting information and a number of frequently asked questions which will help customers as they plan their journeys.

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.

Sharon 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.”

The RMT have warned that the strike day "scab timetable" released by Arriva Rail North comes at the price of passenger safety with the union confirming that it will be monitoring and reporting breaches of agreed procedures to the safety regulator.

General Secretary Mick Cash said;

"Instead of winging it with this high-risk, scab timetable Arriva Rail North should be round the table with RMT working on a safe and sustainable future for their services.

"This dispute, and the campaign of industrial action we have announced, were entirely preventable if the company had listened to the unions deep-seated safety concerns, had taken them seriously, stuck to their earlier commitments and had put passenger safety before profit.

"The company's intransigence has forced our hand and given us to option but to announce industrial action. The disruption to services on Monday will be entirely down to Arriva Rail North reneging on their earlier commitments.

"The union remains available for genuine and meaningful talks and we expect the company to take up that offer as a matter of urgency."

David Sidebottom, director of the independent watchdog, Transport Focus, said: These industrial relations problems are being dumped on passengers who may have to cancel plans or endure miserable journeys. It is crucial that all parties have discussions to resolve this matter without bringing the railway to a standstill.''