Rail strike update: Northern warns 'think about return journey now'

Northern Rail services have been affected by the RMT industrial action

The rail operator has been running around 40 per cent of its normal timetable - and was able to add a few extra trains than planned this morning to cope with rush hour.

But bosses have now issued an appeal to travellers to think about their return journey now, with "very few trains" running after 5pm this evening.

Paul Barnfield, Regional Director at Northern comments: “By 12.30pm 448 trains had arrived at their destinations, helping customers get to work in major towns and cities across the North. Our plan is working well and we have even been able to run a few more morning rush hour trains than originally planned.

“We are now concentrating efforts on getting people home this evening. We urge everyone wanting to travel home today to think now about their return journey. Services on many routes will start to wind down from mid-afternoon onwards, with very few trains running after 5pm this evening.

“On behalf of Northern I would like to thank our customers for working with us today and altering their travel plans."

The 24-hour walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at the Northern operator got underway early this morning. It was called in protest at plans to change the role of guards on trains.

Click here to see how passengers across Yorkshire have been reacting today.For full details of rail services operating during the strike visit www.northernrailway.co.uk/industrialaction.

Real time journey updates are available at www.journeycheck.com/northern/, or go to Twitter @northernassist.