Further strikes and a string of 'planned cancellations' could lead to yet more chaos on the trains this weekend.

Around half of services will not run today (Saturday). Those that do are expected to be packed.

Members of the RMT union are still involved in a bitter row with Northern chiefs over the role of guards on trains. The dispute has led to 18 consecutive Saturdays of industrial action.

Today's strike will take that figure to 19. 'Very few' services will run after 5pm, the operator said.

And on Sunday, a number of 'planned cancellations' will affect passengers travelling in and around - and to and from - Greater Manchester.

(Image: MEN)

RMT union chiefs have announced members will be strike every Saturday in January.

Details of changes today (Saturday, December 28) and next Saturday (January 5) have now been released.

Northern will run around 700 services each Saturday, but a limited number will be put on after 5pm.

Here's the run-down of all the affected services this Saturday and Sunday:

Last trains on Saturday

Liverpool to Wigan (and vice versa): Last train from Liverpool Lime Street will leave at 5.13pm. Last train from Wigan North Western will leave at 5.21pm.

Bolton to Manchester (and vice versa): Last train from Bolton will leave at 5.35pm. Last train from Manchester Oxford Road will leave at 5.20pm. Last train from Manchester Victoria will leave at 5.3pm.

Manchester to Wigan (and vice versa): Last train from Manchester Victoria will leave at at 5.25pm. Last train from Wigan Wallgate will leave at 4.55pm.

(Image: Mark Waugh)

Stockport to Chester (and vice versa): No trains, replacement buses running. Last bus will leave Stockport for Chester at 6pm. Last bus for Chester to Stockport will leave at 5.30pm.

Alderley Edge/Manchester Airport to ManchesterPiccadilly (and vice versa): Last train from Alderley Edge will leave at 5.13pm. Last train from Manchester Airport will leave at 5.59pm.

ManchesterPiccadilly to Macclesfield (and vice versa): Last train from Manchester Piccadilly will leave at 4.47pm. Last train from Macclesfield will leave at 5.21pm.

ManchesterPiccadilly to HazelGrove to Buxton (and vice versa): Last train will leave Manchester Piccadilly at 5.24pm. Last train will leave Buxton at 5.35pm.

Manchester to Hadfield/Glossop (and vice versa): Last train from Manchester Piccadilly will leave at 5.29pm. Last train from Hadfield will leave at 6.13pm.

Leeds to Manchester (and vice versa): Last train from Leeds will leave at 4.36pm. Last train from Manchester Victoria will leave at 5.17pm.

(Image: PA)

Planned cancellations on Sunday

WarringtonCentral to ManchesterAirport: Service will not run. Change at Manchester Oxford Road.

ManchesterPiccadilly to Hadfield: Service will be reduced from two to one per hour.

ManchesterPiccadilly to HazelGrove: There will be an hourly service starting and terminating at Buxton.

ManchesterVictoria to BlackpoolNorth: Services will not run. Passengers can use services between Manchester Victoria and Blackpool North. An hourly bus replacement service will cater Lostock, Blackrod and Adlington.

LiverpoolLimeStreet to WiganNorthWestern: No services will run. TransPennine Express Anglo-Scottish services will call additionally at Wigan North Western. Customers for Wigan North Western should travel via TPE or via Stalybridge/Manchester Victoria to Wigan Northern Western services.

ManchesterAirport to BlackpoolNorth: Route will be served by the Blackpool North to Liverpool Lime Street service.

What's the row about?

The industrial action by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is over the future role of guards on trains.

Union members have said removing guards would result in a 'cocktail of dangers' and expose train passengers to an increase in potential crime.

They also say there would be no staff available to help disabled or elderly passengers to get on and off the train.

All RMT conductors, conductor instructors and train driver members have been told not to book on for duty between 12.01am and 12.59pm on Saturday.

In a statement, Northern said: "There will be very few trains running before 9am and after 5pm.

"Around half of Northern services are not expected to run and any that do operate, will be working to a revised timetable and will be extremely busy - please make sure you check and allow extra time for your journey.

"Expect all public transport and roads to be busier than usual on the day of the strike, with the potential for journey times to be longer. Plan ahead now if you use Northern services."

The union has announced strike action on every Saturday in January as the dispute rumbles on into the New Year

Northern said no trains would run after 5pm on Saturdays unless a resolution could be found.

The union's general secretary Mick Cash said: "Throughout 2018 RMT members have fought for the principles of a publicly-owned, safe and accessible transport network for all.

"In 2019 we will be stepping up that campaign as the Tory government teeters on the brink and the prospect of sweeping away years of private greed and austerity ‎grows by the day."

Northern has previously urged the union to return to talks with ACAS, The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Managing director David Brown said: "By the end of December, we will have had 19 consecutive Saturdays of RMT strike action. This targeted action disrupts our customers' lives. But, as we enter a vital period for businesses, it also damages the economic wellbeing of the north of England.

"We have fantastic colleagues who have supported customers by keeping our trains running on each of the RMT strike days. We are aiming to keep as many people moving as possible and ensuring customers can still travel into the biggest towns and cities, but with very few services running after 5pm.

"We expect all of our services, and those of other operators, to be extremely busy and are calling on our customers to plan their travel carefully for the coming weekend, check the new timetables well in advance, and make sure they do not rely on the last trains home."