NORTHERN Rail workers will be on strike today and commuters are being urged to plan ahead.

Members of the RMT Union are staging the first of two 24-hour strikes tomorrow as part of the ongoing dispute over plans to introduce driver-only trains.

Northern will be running around half of its normal service and the majority of available trains will operate between 7am and 7pm.

The operator said it is aiming to get people to work and home again and services are expected to be extremely busy.

People are asked to allow extra time for journeys, to plan carefully and consider whether travel is necessary.

Staff will also go on strike on Thursday for 24 hours.

For full timetables and more information on the strikes go to www.northernrailway.co.uk