The RMT union have confirmed that strike action will go ahead this week, after no offer was accepted by the National Executive Committee.
Starting tomorrow, continuing on Thursday and Saturday up to 50,000 workers will walk out in a row over jobs, pay and conditions.
RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch said: "The Train Operators have now made an offer and there is no further offer from Network Rail following the one which was rejected last Friday.
"The RMT National Executive Committee has now found both sets of proposals to be unacceptable and it is now confirmed that the strike action scheduled this week will go ahead.
"It is clear that the Tory Government after slashing £4bn of funding from National Rail and Transport for London, has now actively prevented a settlement to this dispute.
"The rail companies have now proposed pay rates that are massively under the relevant rates of inflation, coming on top of the pay freezes of the past few years.
"At the behest of the Government, companies are also seeking to implement thousands of job cuts and have failed to give any guarantee against Compulsory Redundancies.
"We again call on our members to stand firm, support the action, mount the pickets and demonstrate their willingness to fight for workplace justice."
Network Rail says only around half of the rail network will be open on strike days with a very limited service running on lines that will only be open from around 7.30 am until 6.30 pm.
Andrew Haines, chief executive, Network Rail said: “No strike is inevitable until the moment it begins. But sadly disruption tomorrow is guaranteed so we’re asking passengers to plan ahead and only travel by train if necessary.
"We continue to talk to the RMT and urge them to work with us to find a solution that works for rail workers and taxpayers, and avoids causing further disruption for our passengers.”
Northern Trains, Regional Director Chris Jackson is urging passengers not to travel.
He said: "We've done everything we can to offer people across the north of England a skeleton service, but our advice remains not to travel.
The timetable we put in place has been agreed with Network Rail who've had to consider the requirements of other train operators and freight services on the network.
"We apologise in advance for the disruption and inconvenience that the RMT's industrial action will cause. And of course, we continue to be keen to speak to the RMT to find the resolution and avoid any future strikes."
A government spokesperson has said that confirmation of the strikes is 'deeply disappointing'
Radcliffe child sex offender jailed for life after abusing five children
Conservatives select Emma Lee as candidate for Tottington by election
Bowlee car boot sale returns for the 2026 season
Inside the major refurbishment transforming Tenpin Rochdale
Former Middleton pub could reopen as convenience store after closure
Councillors raise concern over Riverside Housing sale of social homes in Middleton
Heywood community raises £1799.65 as Donna Dolan shaves hair for Macmillan
Road closure in Ramsbottom
Rochdale families urged to shape national consultation on keeping children safe online
Civil war erupts as Labour activists in Gorton and Denton say party is ‘not willing to change’
Silver Street offices approved as temporary housing
All the major projects Rochdale can expect from capital funding
