Northern Rail planned strikes 2026: Is my train running this week?

Lauren Ryan

Published: May 15, 2026

Updated: Oct 16, 2026

Northern Rail planned strikes 2026: Is my train running this week?

If you have a Northern train journey coming up, it’s always a good idea to keep up to date with planned or potential strike action in 2026 – especially during ongoing industrial disputes. When Northern strikes occur, its train service can experience reduced frequency and operating hours, with cancellations common across regional routes. Short-notice timetable changes are also a possibility, severely impacting any travel you may have planned on affected dates.

Northern operates one of the UK’s largest regional rail networks, covering a wide area across northern England. Disruption can affect both local commuting and longer regional journeys, often with limited alternative options. Commuter routes in cities like Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool often run on a reduced schedule, while regional connections between major cities are often left with no service. Day trippers and tourists to destinations like the Lake District and Yorkshire are heavily impacted, as the rural lines to these areas are often the first to be suspended.

In this guide, you’ll find all the latest information on planned and potential Northern strikes in 2026, as well as practical information on how to proceed if your journey is impacted

Is Northern Rail on strike today or next week?

No, Northern Rail does not currently have strike action planned for today or next week. However, we recommend checking back here regularly if you have travel planned, as situations can develop and escalate. This page will be updated with the latest information to keep you in the loop.

You can also check the following sources for the latest information:

Northern Rail’s Service Update Page and Strike Action Page will share information about planned disruptions to train service.
National Rail’s Industrial Action Page is kept up to date with planned strike action.

Remember: Northern Rail strikes can be announced at short notice – as little as two weeks, in some cases – and altered schedules may not be published until a few days beforehand. As such, it’s worth monitoring journey planners to stay informed.

Northern Rail strike dates and latest updates

There are no Northern Rail strikes planned for 2026, at the time of writing. In the event of any industrial action being announced, this page will be updated to provide you with the details.

While no strike action has been planned, disputes can develop rapidly. Strike action is often announced with as little as one to two weeks’ notice. As such, we advise you to stay up to date with any Northern Rail service updates, especially during periods of negotiation between the operator and unions such as RMT and ASLEF.

Check Northern’s Strike Action updates and National Rail’s Industrial Action Page for all the latest developments.

How do Northern Rail strikes affect your journey?

Northern strike action usually follows a Key Route Strategy mandated by Network Rail. This prioritises major city links, while reducing local and regional services. This reduced service can impact many different facets of the Northern rail experience:

While city commuting in major hubs like Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield is usually the most protected during Northern strikes, the frequency and hours of these services are greatly reduced. Trains typically only run between 07:00 and 19:00 – if you start or finish work outside these times, you’ll likely miss out on a train connection. Frequency is typically reduced from four to just one train an hour – this leads to massive overcrowding, especially during peak hours.
Travel between northern cities often sees smaller regional stations skipped by Northern trains during strikes to prioritise city hubs. Some Northern links between northern cities might even be cancelled, forcing passengers to turn to alternative train operators.
Rural routes are almost always the first to be completely suspended during Northern strikes. Lines such as the Cumbrian Coast, the Settle-Carlisle line and the Esk Valley often see zero trains running, leading to total isolation for communities where Northern is the only public transport provider.

Tips for navigating Northern strikes

If your Northern train is affected by strike action, follow the advice below:

Allow extra time: If your route is still operating, allow extra time for your journey. With reduced service, stations can experience overcrowding. Delays are common even for services listed as running.
Plan alternatives in advance: As soon as you decide to avoid rail routes impacted by strike action, book your alternative travel – whether that’s a different train route, a coach service or a car hire. Tickets sell out for these alternatives rapidly, so you must act fast.
Avoid peak hours: If possible, try to catch an earlier or later train to avoid peak hours, which are generally from the start of service to 09:30 and 16:00 to 19:00. These hours will see commuters that would usually be spread across 4 trains an hour vying for space on a single train. We recommend departing mid-morning or early afternoon, when trains are normally less crowded.

Alternative travel options during Northern Rail strikes

Northern does not provide rail replacement buses during strikes, so if your desired route is affected by industrial action, you will have to seek alternative transport. Luckily, there are a few options to choose from if you find yourself in this situation.

Alternative train operators

Several long-distance train operators serve as backup options for rail links between major hubs during Northern strikes. TransPennine Express is the main alternative, providing travel between Manchester, Leeds, York, Liverpool and Sheffield. Avanti West Coast and LNER also offer links between large Northern cities such as Manchester and Preston, and CrossCountry is useful for passengers travelling between Sheffield, York and Leeds.

Buses and coaches

Express coaches such as National Express, Megabus and Flixbus offer reliable travel between major northern cities such as Leeds and Manchester during rail disruption. But be warned: as soon as strike dates are announced, these coaches sell out rapidly.

Regional and local buses offer links between smaller towns, which are often heavily impacted by rail strikes. Transdev runs lines that serve towns like Scarborough and Burnley, while Stagecoach offers long-distance regional buses to the Cumbrian Coast.

Car travel

Using a private car or hiring a car is often the only viable option for getting around rural areas where Northern is the only public transport provider. The Settle–Carlisle Line, the Esk Valley Line and the Cumbrian Coast Line, for example, cover many communities that aren’t served by other rail providers or bus services. As such, driving to these areas is the only other option. If hiring a car, make sure to book as soon as strike dates are announced, as prices often surge during industrial rail action.

Popular FAQs for Northern Rail strikes

How far in advance are Northern Rail strikes announced?

Northern strikes are typically announced one to two weeks in advance of industrial action, although strike-date timetables are usually published just 5 days in advance. Keep an eye on the Northern Rail Strike Action page and National Rail during industrial negotiations to stay up to date with the latest service alterations.

Will any Northern trains run during strikes?

Yes, trains usually still run during Northern strikes, but on a significantly reduced timetable. Northern usually restricts its service to key routes serving major hubs during industrial action. One or two trains an hour usually continue to run between major cities, with later starts and earlier finishes.

Can I get a refund if my train is cancelled?

Yes, if your Northern Rail train is cancelled due to strike action, you are entitled to a full refund. You can claim your refund through the channel you purchased your ticket from, whether that’s directly from Northern, here on Trip.com or on another booking platform. Some strikes also implement ‘Mutual Ticket Acceptance’, which allows your original ticket to be used on a different operator’s service.

Do Northern strikes affect local routes the most?

Yes, local and rural routes are generally most heavily impacted by Northern Rail strikes. This is because Northern prioritises high-capacity city-to-city lines to affect as few passengers as possible, while local intermediate stations between major cities are often skipped.