NORTHERN has released for a heavily restricted rail service in East Lancashire during planned RMT strike action taking place on Tuesday October 3 and Thursday October 5

The train operator aims to run less than half its normal timetable on both days between 7am and 7pm.

There will be a much restricted service between Blackburn, Darwen and Manchester with a bus connection to Clitheroe.

No trains will use the line through the Todmorden Curve but connecting bus between Accrington, Blackburn and Burnley Manchester Road will alternately serve Hebden Bridge and Todmorden to connect with The Calder Valley line to Leeds

Train service between Blackpool and Preston through Blackburn to Burnley will be heavily restricted with a bus replacement service between Burnley Central, Nelson and Colne.

Some smaller intermediate stations will be shut.

Details of the revised timetables are on Northern’s industrial action webpage with an easy station search feature and will shorty be available in online train planners such as National Rail Enquiries.

Richard Allan, Northern’s Deputy Managing Director, said: “We are doing all we can to keep customers on the move on October 3 and 5.”

He added: “ 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 colleagues 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, and consider whether their journey needs to be made.”