VIRGIN Trains will run a full timetable during a strike over the next bank holiday weekend.

The RMT union says its members will walk-out for 48 hours on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 on Virgin Trains east coast route.

However, Virgin Trains’ plans mean a normal timetable will run.

The company has made changes which will see a single person on each train take overall responsibility for customers, supported by a team of hosts.

David Horne, managing director for Virgin Trains on the east coast, said: “I’m pleased to announce that we will be able to run a full timetable during the RMT strike, and would like to reassure customers they can plan and book their journeys as normal and with confidence.

“The Bank Holiday weekend sees a number of exciting events on our route including the Tour de Yorkshire, so we wanted to do everything we possibly could to ensure we offer a full timetable, and continue to support communities and local economies along our network.”

The RMT has said previously that it has been seeking an “explicit clarification” from Virgin on the retention of the role of the guard. It wants a specific assurance that a new position of train manager will retain the safety- critical roles and training currently held by train guards. The RMT said consultation over “widespread on-board changes” has been going on for more than a year, adding that the company had implemented the changes from March with no agreement with the union.