Northern conductors back RMT agreement on the role of the guard

Northern conductors have overwhelmingly backed an agreement to end the long-running dispute over the role of the guard, according to an RMT announcement published on 9 November 2026. The union says the harmonisation package will be implemented this month.

Agreement backed by conductors

RMT said its conductor members on Northern services supported the deal in a referendum. Its announcement marks the conclusion of a dispute that included multiple days of strike action over several years.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey congratulated the Northern conductor members who took part. He credited their resolve, the efforts of those involved and a change in government direction backing the deal with helping to reach the agreement.

Implementation in November

The union says the harmonisation package will be implemented in November 2026. Its brief announcement does not set out the detailed terms or a numerical breakdown of the referendum result.

Sunday services: check before travelling

Separately, Northern's North West Sunday timetable update says revised services have been in place across several routes since December 2024 and will continue until further notice. Northern explains that Sundays fall outside conductors' regular working week.

The published changes include reduced frequencies on routes such as Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton and Crewe via Stockport, with services running every two hours. Sunday train services between Stoke and Manchester Piccadilly, Lancaster and Morecambe, and Wigan North Western and Stalybridge are replaced by buses. Other routes have selected cancellations, reduced services or partial withdrawals.

Neither the RMT announcement nor Northern's timetable page confirms that the guard-role agreement will restore these Sunday services. Passengers should continue to check their journey before setting off. Northern also notes that the published summary does not include real-time alterations.

See Northern's current Sunday timetable changes for the full route-by-route summary, and check Northern service updates or National Rail live trains for the latest travel information.

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Photo: RMT.