Rail union, RMT, has confirmed that more strike action will take place on Northern in the ongoing dispute over guards and their role on the train.

The strike action will take place on Saturday 21st July 2018 throughout the Northern network.

Changes to train times are a possibility, timetables for which will be announced in due course.

All Arriva Rail North Conductor, Conductor Instructor and Train Driver members are instructed to take action as follows:

• Not to book on for any shifts between 0001 hours and 2359 hours on Saturday 21ST July 2018

What did the officials say?

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“It is a tribute to the determination and professionalism of RMT members on Arriva Rail North that they have remained rock solid for over a year now in what is a battle to put public safety before private profit. The next phase of action will take place two weeks on Saturday as the company refuse point blank to engage in talks.

“RMT is angry and frustrated that while we are making some progress in discussions in similar safety disputes‎ Arriva Rail North refuse point blank to engage with the union in any meaningful fashion. That is a disgrace and speaks volumes about the attitude of this company.

“German-owned Northern Rail want to run nearly half a million trains a year without a safety critical guard on board in a move that would wreck both safety and access ‎to services and they should listen to their front-line staff and pull back from that plan immediately.

“We have seen repeatedly in recent weeks that Arriva are not capable of running a railway and have chosen to declare war on passengers and staff alike in the drive for increased profits while safety, access and reliability are left to rot.

“RMT has agreed arrangements in Wales and Scotland that enshrine the guard guarantee. If it’s good enough for Wales and Scotland to have safe rail services it should be good enough for the rest of Britain.

“We thank the public for their support and understanding throughout this dispute over rail safety and access and the union remains ready for talks.”