PASSENGERS in York and North Yorkshire are being warned of strike action tomorrow - one of the busiest travel days of the year - on Northern trains.

The York-based train operator, whose services include the York to Harrogate route, said it still planned to run nearly 1,400 train journeys, despite the strike by RMT members.

The vast majority will operate between 7am and 7pm with few in the early morning and late evening.

Regional director Sharon Keith said today: “We know how important rail services are for those travelling around the Easter bank holidays and we will be operating as many of our services as we can to help get our customers where they need to be. We have planned to provide around 70 per cent of our usual services between the hours of 7am and 7pm."

She urged passengers to plan journeys and check for service updates on Northern's website, with information also available at National Rail Enquires.

The strike is part of a continuing row over driver-only operated trains, with the union claiming passenger safety would be put at risk by scrapping the role of guards.

General secretary Mick Cash said guards had been protected through negotiation with rail firms in Scotland and Wales but not England, and said the safety of the travelling public should be put before train companies' profits.

Northern deputy managing director Richard Allan urged the RMT to allow local representatives to engage in meaningful discussions with the company on how customers could be better served, adding|: “We are still prepared to offer unprecedented guarantees of jobs and pay reviews until the end of our franchise in 2025."