Bolton's train passengers are being urged to 'check before they travel' as strike action will severely affect services.

The RMT will stage its latest strike action on two dates next week.

It will take place on Thursday 16 and Saturday 18 March.

Despite suspending action by their members working for Network Rail, the RMT strike for members working for train operators, including Northern, remains in place.

Northern will run an amended strike timetable on the affected days, with a 12-hour operation on selected routes from 7am to 7pm.

For more information, customers should visit: www.northernrailway.co.uk/strikes In addition to the action on 16 and 18 March, there are further RMT strikes planned for 30 March and 1 April.

Northern bosses say that given the impact of the RMT action on fleet displacement, services are expected to start later than usual on the days immediately following the strike dates (Friday 17 and Sunday 19 March), although a full timetable will run on those days once services are up and running.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “We’re expecting the skeleton services we can run to be very busy – so customers should plan ahead and check before they travel.

“Given the reduced timetable only runs until 7pm, I’m very keen to stress that people should check their ‘last train home’ on those dates – so that customers don’t find themselves stranded at the wrong end of the line as a result of this action by the RMT.”

A strike by RMT members at 14 train operators is still scheduled to take place on March 16, 18 and 30 and April 1, and is expected to cause major disruption.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents the companies, has urged the union to also call of those walk outs and put its latest offer to a vote.

On Wednesday evening, the RMT said it had been invited for talks by the RDG on condition the strikes on March 16 and 18 were suspended, but the union said the walkouts would go ahead.

A statement said: “The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) invited us to discussions on the current dispute but on the condition that the planned strike action on 16 & 18 March is suspended.

“The RMT NEC has decided that the scheduled action will remain in place but that the union will be available for discussions and will attend any meetings on creating a resolution to the dispute through an improved offer.

“The union will contact the RDG seeking such a meeting.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “After months of strikes, the RMT are putting this very fair offer to its members in a neutral referendum, marking a positive step in resolving this dispute.

“In line with the existing mandate, Network Rail’s offer guarantees competitive pay rises and no compulsory redundancies, while ensuring we can take forward much-needed reform to secure the future of our railways. We hope RMT members will recognise the benefits, accept this offer and put an end to industrial action.”