PASSENGERS are being warned to plan their journeys ahead of strike action this week.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union announced that their members will strike between 12am to 11.59pm on Tuesday, October 3 and Thursday, October 5. 

The dispute between the RMT and Merseyrail relates to a new fleet of driver-only trains that will replace the current 40-year-old rolling stock in 2020 which the RMT say will threaten the security of guards jobs on trains.

Liverpool Lime Street will have a major upgrade and no mainline services will enter or leave Lime Street Station from September 30 to October 8.

On strike days most Merseyrail services are planned to run every half hour from around 7am to 7pm, with a break in service between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

15 minute services will be maintained between 7.30am and midnight between Liverpool South Parkway and Liverpool Central, as Liverpool South Parkway will be the mainline rail hub during the Lime Street station upgrade work September 30 to October 22.

Passengers who travel with Northern are also advised to check before they travel as it is planning on running a limited service between 7am and 7pm on October 3 and 5. 

Northern trains are the only mainline rail services affected by strike action in the Liverpool City Region.

Speaking about the strike action, managing director at Merseyrail Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde said: “The RMT has deliberately targeted these two strikes days to take place as the major programme of work to upgrade Lime Street mainline stations gets underway. 

"This follows their previous form, where they have targeted the Grand National at Aintree, the LIMF and Fusion music festivals and the Open Golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. 

“We have devised a timetable that helps keep the city region moving, and our services will get people to and from Liverpool South Parkway, as planned.

"However, it does mean that there will be fewer services on other parts of the network, so we urge our passengers to consult our website and follow us on social media in order to plan their journeys."

After announcing the strike action, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "It is disgraceful that Merseyrail continue to refuse all reasonable attempts by the union to settle this dispute. 

"Merseyrail have repeatedly kicked all conciliatory approaches by RMT negotiators back in our faces and made it crystal clear that all that they are interested in is the union signing a surrender document which gives them a free hand to rip apart the safety culture on the railway.

"It is that cynical and hostile stance from Merseyrail which has left us with no option but press ahead with a further two‎ days of strike action.

"RMT recognises the severe impact that the action will have but we are dealing with an employer that refuses to listen or engage with the union on the critical issue of safe rail operation and we ask the public to understand that we have no option but to take this high-profile action to force the company back to the negotiating table.

"RMT is calling for genuine talks to take place around a safe and sustainable deal that protects the future safety across Merseyrail services.

"The company should take up that offer of further talks as a matter of urgency.

“Merseyrail are completely ignoring the clear wishes of their own passengers, who overwhelmingly oppose the idea of drver-only operated trains on their network.

"That pig-headed attitude has forced the union’s hand and the idea that we would compromise on the fundamental issue of rail safety is absurd.

"The ball remains firmly in Merseyrail’s court.”