Train operator Northern has issued a ‘do not travel’ warning to customers ahead of more strike action in the new year.

Commuters hoping for a smoother journey in 2023 are set to be hit by more industrial action in an ongoing row over pay and conditions on the railways.

The first week of the year will see workers at the RMT and ASLEF unions will walk out bringing services to a half from Tuesday January 3 to Saturday 7.

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Travel bosses yesterday warned of ‘significant disruption’ to services throughout January as train operator Northern issued a ‘do not travel’ warning to its customers.

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 9 January 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.

RMT workers will walk out for two 48-hour spells on January 3-4 and 6-7, while ASLEP workers will down tools on January 5.

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“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.”

Meanwhile Network Rail said, “industrial action means rail travel will be significantly disrupted throughout December and January”.

It comes as railway workers continued strike action over the Christmas period, causing delays to festive plans for thousands.

Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) at Cross Country, which operates services through the North East, staged a 24-hour strike from 9pm on Boxing Day in a row over pay, conditions, and a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.

Earlier TSSA organising director Nadine Rae said staff made the decision to strike because “they are sick and tired of being taken for granted”.

Meanwhile another 48-hour strike by RMT workers which began on Christmas Eve also came to an end on Tuesday (December 27).

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