A local railway partnership has its 'fingers crossed' that a solution will be found to resolve a national strike.

Anne Ridley, a Director of the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership, which works with local train companies, is hopeful for an agreement soon between National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and train companies to help get services back to normal.

RMT announced earlier this month that they will hold three days of national strike action across the railway network with over 50,000 railway workers to walk out in the biggest dispute on the network since 1989.

The first of these strikes took place on Tuesday, and more will follow today and Saturday, due to the inability of the rail employers to come to a negotiated settlement with RMT. The first strike cause widespread disruption to the rail network with commuters unable to travel.

Network Rail and the train operating companies have subjected their staff to multiyear pay freezes and plan to cut thousands of jobs which will make the railways unsafe.

Northern Rail, who operate the North East's regional network, issued a 'do not travel' notice for the duration of the strikes as there will be an impact on the number of services which can operate on the non-strike days during this period. 

Speaking about the strike, Anne said: “The disruption for passengers and the impact on local businesses and attractions caused by these strikes are a concern. 

"We hope that a resolution is found and that normal services are reinstated as soon as possible”.

Commenting on Tuesday's first rail strike since 1989, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The turnout at picket lines has been fantastic and exceeded expectations in our struggle for job security, defending conditions and a decent pay rise.

“Our members will continue the campaign and have shown outstanding unity in pursuit of a settlement to this dispute.

“RMT members are leading the way for all workers in this country who are sick and tired of having their pay and conditions slashed by a mixture of big business profits and government policy 

“Now is the time to stand up and fight for every single railway worker in this dispute that we will win.”