Northern Rail Train Drivers and Guards have voted to take industrial action on Monday 13th March. It will affect over 3/4 of trains into Manchester.  The dispute is over Driver Only Operation (DOO), which is the root of the long running dispute on Southern Trains.

RMT official Mick Cash said, “We will not agree to any extensions of DOO and will fight to retain the safety critical role of the guard and to keep a guard on the train. The company have been made well aware of that.”

Northern Rail responded by saying, “As our modernisation proposals are still in the early stages, it is a shame that RMT has announced strike action for Monday March 13. Our aim is to reach a constructive resolution and we urge RMT to continue the talks we have already started.”

Hazel Grove LibDem Paul Ankers commutes from Hazel Grove three times a week, “I am greatly concerned about this being the start of the chaos that has dragged on down south. I pretty much support having a guard, but I definitely support passengers not facing commuting misery.”