Train operator Northern has informed people planning to attend the Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On concert on Friday 1 September that they should make alternative travel arrangements for their journey home as due to strike action, last trains will depart in the early evening.
Northern is operating services between 7am and 7pm on both Friday 1 and Monday 4 September with services in some areas finishing before 7pm. Trains are expected to be extremely busy, journeys may take longer than normal and connections to other services may not be available. Northern is advising customers to re-check services before travelling.
Sharon Keith, Northern’s Regional Director said: “On both days of strike action we are operating a reduced service in many areas with all trains finishing earlier.
“This means that the last train leaving Blackpool North on the opening night and on Monday 4th will be at 19:40. We therefore urge those planning to use the train to attend the Illuminations to plan ahead and make alternative travel arrangements for their journey home.
“Northern services to and from the event on both Saturday and Sunday will operate as normal.
“We are really sorry for any inconvenience this will cause people attending what is one of Blackpool’s key showcase events. We are trying to keep people updated and on the move as much as possible on both strike days and again, are urging them to plan ahead.”
In order to help those people who are unable to use rail services to get to the Switch-On event because of the disruption, all of Blackpool Council’s pay and display car parks will be free to use between 4pm and midnight on Friday 1 September.
Details of Northern’s revised timetables during RMT’s strike action can be found on Northern’s industrial action page which is available through northernrailway.co.uk/industrialaction.
The planned strike action from RMT comes as Northern is embarking on a journey to modernise its network by 2020. The modernisation programme will see the introduction of 281 new carriages, 243 upgraded trains, 2,000 extra services each week and better stations across the network. 15 refurbished trains are already operating on the network.
Northern timetable information can be found at:
- www.northernrailway.co.uk/industrialaction
- www.journeycheck.com/northernrail
- www.nationalrail.co.uk
- Twitter @northernassist
- Or by calling 0800 200 6060
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