Last-ditch talks have failed to resolve the dispute over pay, jobs and conditions meaning thousands of rail workers will walk out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The strikes are the biggest outbreak of industrial action on the railways for a generation. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Network Rail and 13 train operators will walk out, with services across the UK starting to be affected from Monday evening.
Just one in five trains will operate on strike days, primarily on main lines and only for around 11 hours. Although talks were held into Monday afternoon no deal was reached.
On Tuesday London Underground workers are also on strike. READ MORE: Warning that Greater Manchester's roads will get 'busier' as rail strikes planned next week The RMT said the train operators have now made an offer and there is no further offer from Network Rail following one which was rejected last Friday.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk