IT IS not always easy to get to the bottom of industrial disputes such as that which disrupted Northern Rail services in and out of York yesterday.

Both sides - the unions and the employers - are usually so desperate to put their own spin on events that the truth becomes difficult to pin down.

What is abundantly clear, however, is that yesterday’s 24-hour strike was wholly unnecessary.

Northern Rail wants to introduce 98 new trains towards the end of next year in which it will be possible for drivers rather than guards or conductors to control doors.

This would allow Northern to reduce the number of guards travelling on trains. Although it didn’t specifically say so in statements made to The Press yesterday, the company would presumably argue that this would pose no safety risk to passengers.

The RMT union, however, begs to differ and claims to have genuine concerns about passenger safety.

Whatever the rights or wrongs of the dispute, however, it could and should be resolved around the negotiating table.

Fed-up passengers who faced delays and cancellations yesterday have every right to be furious.

The dispute mirrors that which has caused so much disruption on the Southern Rail network.

We certainly don’t want that happening here.

Northern should give cast-iron guarantees that the safety of passengers will not in any way be compromised by the plans.

Then it and the RMT should get around a table together and stay there until an agreement is hammered out.