PASSENGERS are being advised that they should only travel by train if 'absolutely necessary' on August 18 and August 20 as further national strike action is set to take place.

Network Rail say that the strikes will see disruption across the North West, with 20 percent of the usual number of trains expected to run, some routes will have none.

Those that are running will start later, from 7.30am, and finish earlier, by 6.30pm.

Repeated coordinated strike action by the RMT and TSSA unions, over pay and what Network Rail refer to as 'modernisation plans', will see services reduced across the region.

Stations such as Liverpool Lime Street, which typically sees 13 departures per hour, will be reduced to two services an hour. Manchester Piccadilly, which normally would see 30 departures, will be reduced to six.

Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s North West and Central region managing director, said: "It saddens me that we are again having to ask passengers to stay away from the railway for two days this week due to unnecessary strike action, when we should be helping them enjoy their summers.

"We have made a good and fair pay offer but, with the exception of our TSSA management grades who accepted the deal, our unions are refusing to put it to a ballot to let our employees have a say, and sadly that means more disruption on the rail network.

"We’ll run as many services as we can this Thursday and Saturday, but it will only be around a fifth of the usual timetable, so please only travel if absolutely necessary and if you must travel, plan ahead and check when your last train will be."

RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch has laid the blame for the ongoing dispute at the feet of Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps.

In an RMT statement, Mr Lynch said: "Grant Shapps is a dreadful minister who is continuing his dereliction of duty by issuing idol threats, against railway workers, all for the sake of trying to save his fledging political career.

"Instead of sitting down with RMT and the rail industry to find a negotiated settlement to this dispute, Mr Shapps has politically interfered to prevent a deal.

"Now he is threatening our members with P&O style fire and rehire and the reintroduction of Driver Only Operated services, which will lead to a fall in safety standards and job losses.

"If Mr Shapps proceeds on this course, RMT will use the industrial mandate it has from its 40,000 members in this dispute to take more strike action in the coming weeks and months."

On the threat to bring in minimum service levels on trains during strikes, Mr Lynch added: "If these proposals become law, there will be the biggest resistance mounted by the entire trade union movement, rivalling the general strike of 1926, the Suffragettes and Chartism."

Disruption is also expected early in the morning after each day of industrial action – Friday 19 August and Sunday 21 August – as striking workers return to duties.

Passengers are encouraged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk so they know exactly what to expect.

Further information can be found via individual train operator websites, including: