RAIL passengers will be faced with a reduced service on Friday as Northern staff hold a 24-hour strike.

RMT union members employed by Arriva Rail North, which runs the Northern franchise, will walk out on April 28 over the future of train guards.

Northern services in Knutsford will run between Chester and Altrincham, meaning passengers for Manchester will need to get a tram to the city centre from Altrincham.

Knutsford, Plumley, Mobberley and Ashley stations will have an hourly service on the line.

Meanwhile, the Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe line will terminate in Alderley Edge, meaning no Northern services will stop at Chelford, Goostrey or Holmes Chapel.

All services are expected to be extremely busy and Northern is asking customers to allow extra time for journeys, plan carefully and consider whether travel is necessary.

Sharon Keith, Regional Director for Northern, said: “Being able to run 40 per cent of services, supplemented by the extra rail replacement buses, means we will be able to keep the north of England on the move on 28 April.

“Our timetables have been developed to provide services on our busiest routes, at the busiest times of day. But we expect all services to be busy and ask our customers to plan.”

Full details of the services can be found online at northernrailway.co.uk/industrial-action