RAIL users in Bradford are being advised to take extra time for journeys next week as strike action is set to cause disruption.

The RMT union is holding strike action on Tuesday, October 3, and Thursday 5, over rail safety.

Northern is aiming to run 46 per cent of its normal timetable between 7am and 7pm on both days, but is advising passengers to allow extra time for journeys as it expects all services to be extremely busy, especially during peak times.

On its services between Skipton and Bradford and Ilkley and Bradford, there are no trains before 7am or after 7pm.

On the Ilkley line, two thirds of trains will not be running, and on the Skipton line a number of departures are also cancelled.

On the service between Bradford and Leeds, the first train leaving Forster Square is at 8.26am, followed by one train an hour between the two cities.

Richard Allan, Northern deputy managing director, said: “Customers can be assured that we are doing all we can to keep them on the move.

“We are focusing on maintaining a train service on our busier routes between 7am and 7pm, with replacement bus services available where trains aren’t running.

“Information is being displayed on posters at stations and staff will be out across the network supporting customers on their journeys.

“We ask everyone to take time to plan ahead, keeping checking services on our website.

“We want to make changes to make services fit for the future, better supporting customers on trains and at stations.

“While this strike action is disruptive, we remain firmly focused on delivering a better service for our customers.

“RMT continues to reject our offers to talk and we are disappointed that the union has called this further strike action.”

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: “These strikes are about safety. They are about putting the safety and security of the travelling public before the profits of private companies.

“RMT will not stand back while the guards are thrown off Britain’s trains for political and financial reasons.”

Northern has said customers who travel on October 3 or 5 and experience delays or more than half an hour can claim compensation, along with season ticket holders who choose not to travel.

James Vasey, from the Bradford Rail Users Group, said Northern is trying to run as much of its consumer service as possible.

He said: “There are services in the morning but the the early evening finish will damage the night time and evening economy.

“People have to go home early to avoid missing trains which has an effect, but Northern is doing the best it can to keep its services going.”

He added that while the trade union has a legitimate case, it is risking losing public support by disadvantaging passengers, and said it should look at other options instead of strike action to keep rail users onside.