Which trains will run during Monday's Northern strike: Full details

Northern Rail said services would “wind down” between 5pm and 7pm on the day of the strike, but emergency timetables published today reveal that the last journeys on some routes will leave even before the afternoon rush hour begins.

The company says it will run around 40 per cent of its usual timetable - around 980 services - which it expects to be “extremely busy”.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, which has called the strike on the Northern, Southern and Merseyrail networks, labelled the plans a “scab timetable”.

The dispute centres on the use of driver-only trains, which are expected to be introduced on some Northern routes next year, although the company has yet to confirm plans.

Merseyrail has confirmed that new trains from 2020 will no longer need guards, but it has promised to redeploy all staff.

The union has staged repeated strikes on the Southern network, causing misery for millions.

Earlier this year, Northern faced ridicule after a train driver pulled out of a station leaving the conductor behind on the platform.

The company advised passengers to “avoid unnecessary journeys” on Monday and to plan ahead.

Train tickets will be valid on that day on buses run by Northern’s parent company, Arriva, but will not be accepted by other bus operators.

The company said it was “looking into the possibility of adding some replacement bus services” but has yet to publish details.

On the busy Leeds to Harrogate route, only 21 trains will run in each direction on Monday, with the last one leaving Leeds at 5.29pm.

The day’s final train to Ilkley will leave at 5.32pm, the last service to Skipton at 5.56, and to Castleford at 5.33. No services will run from Bradford to Ilkley after 4.43pm.

On the Whitby to Middlesbrough line, only two trains in each direction will run, with the last one leaving Whitby just before 4pm.

Some disruption is also expected early on Tuesday as services get back to normal.

Strike timetables in full for Monday, March 13, 2017

Season ticket holders will be able to claim a refund if they choose not to travel on Monday, Northern said.

The firm’s deputy managing director, Richard Allan, said: “We are acutely aware of the important role that Northern plays in keeping the north of England moving, would ask for your patience on Monday, and ask all our customers to individually take time to consider whether your journey is necessary and if it is, please plan carefully.”

Metro, the transport authority for West Yorkshire, said other operators’ trains, which are not affected by the strike, were likely to be busier than usual, with extra traffic expected on the roads.

The RMT said the strike timetable “came at the expense of passenger safety”. Its 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.”

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said: “Rail companies want to harness technology and smarter ways of working to give passengers a better, more modern service, and these coordinated strikes will cause nothing but needless disruption.”