Northern Rail issue ‘do not travel’ advice for first week in January

The travel advice comes as during the first week of 2023, RMT and ASLEF strikes will bring the rail network to a halt.

Strikes are planned for Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 of January.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “This is a most regrettable start to 2023 and we can only apologise to our customers whose return to work from the holidays will be disrupted by the action by the RMT and ASLEF.

“For many, Monday January 9 will be their first experience of our new timetable – which went live in December and includes an additional 3,000 services a week across our network.

“As such, we’re encouraging everyone to use the new ‘Check My Timetable’ feature on our website to see the changes specific to their local station.”

The industrial action taking place includes two 48-hour walk outs by the RMT on 3-4 and 6-7 January; and ASLEF members staging a one-day strike on 5 January.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with nearly 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England. 

The RMT state that both pay offers from Network Rail and the train operating companies are well below what has been agreed in Scotland and in Wales.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The union remains available for talks to resolve this dispute.

“But until the government gives the rail industry a mandate to come to a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and condition of work, our industrial campaign will continue into the new year, if necessary.”

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