UK rail strikes latest: When are the Northern Rail walk-outs taking place?

RMT members staging industrial action in opposition to driver-only passenger trains

(Getty/iStock)

Britain is facing a new run of rail strikes this week, promising further summer transport disruption.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union working for Arriva Rail North (Northern Rail) are staging industrial action to express their opposition to driver-only trains.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When are the strikes taking place?

Northern Rail will be operating a reduced service across its routes between 7am and 7pm on Tuesday 19, Thursday 21 and Saturday 23 of June, with widespread delays expected into Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool.

The company advises that trains and rail replacement buses are expected to be “extremely busy” and that travellers should allow extra time to complete their journeys.

A complete list of Northern Rail services running is available here.

South Western Railway (SWR) rail workers were due to strike from Thursday 21 until midnight on Saturday 23 of June but have since called off the action after meeting with RMT representatives.

“RMT welcomes the fact that following joint talks with South Western Railway, under the auspices of conciliation service Acas, and subsequent correspondence, adequate progress has been made regarding the dispute over the role of the guard and the extension of driver-only operation,” said Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, announcing the strike’s suspension.

“We hope that the talks can continue in a constructive manner and an agreement can be reached.”

Greater Anglia had also been set to face a strike from RMT members but this too was cancelled after talks with the union.

Why are rail staff going on strike?

The RMT argues that retaining conductors and guards is vital to ensuring passenger safety while the operators say they are reducing staff in order to limit the amount of time trains spend waiting at stations.

“It’s another day and another rail scandal under Chris Grayling. It is utterly shocking that he is using Northern taxpayers and passenger’s money to reimburse German state-owned Northern Rail for money they have lost as a result of strike action,” said Mr Cash.

“By bankrolling Northern in this way Chris Grayling is seeking to prolong this dispute and break the workforce. Well, it will not work and our members remain as solid as ever in the fight to ensure safety and access for all on railways across the North.

“Instead of propping up a foreign-owned company in its fight against British workers Chris Grayling should be allowing meaningful discussions to take place which would allow passengers to keep a second member of staff on every train.

“We are awaiting a positive response from Northern to the union’s repeated call for talks.”

Is there any chance the strikes could be averted?

The RMT has called for last-ditch talks to avert the action and customers are advised to keep an eye on the operators’ respective websites and social media channels for updates on the situation.