No rush hour train services will run in or out of Bradford Interchange for four successive days if proposed strike action goes ahead after Easter, it has been revealed.

Many staff at Network Rail, which operates Britain’s rail infrastructure, are set to stand down between 6am and 10am and again from 6pm to 10pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week.

Northern Rail, the district’s biggest train operator, said it would try to run as many trains as possible during the affected periods but added that it would be unable to run services on the Caldervale line, which connects Bradford Interchange with Halifax and Leeds.

Northern has considered introducing a bus service through Halifax but has decided this is not a viable option, while the First bus company is also looking to run extra services, but the train strike looks set to bring misery to thousands of people who commute to Bradford from Calderdale.

To the north of the city, an amended timetable will be introduced on the Airedale and Wharfedale routes, allowing a limited service to operate into Bradford Forster Square from Ilkley, Skipton and Leeds.

Today, Network Rail claimed to have uncovered scores of “inaccuracies and deficiencies” in a ballot of signal workers which it will challenge in the High Court in a bid to avert industrial action.

The company accused the Rail Maritime and Transport union of failing to comply with the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act of 1992 in the ballot, which showed a 54 per cent majority in favour of strikes.

The case was set to be heard at the High Court in London tomorrow morning.

The union said it will strongly defend the legal action.

Robin Gisby, Network Rail’s director of operations and customer services, said: “We believe we have uncovered scores of inaccuracies and discrepancies in the RMT’s signallers ballot that, in our view, makes it invalid.

“We want to find a negotiated settlement to this dispute and talks continue but we have a responsibility to the entire country to head off this strike and let people enjoy their Easter break.”

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said: “We will be mounting the most robust defence possible. This is a scandalous attempt by Network Rail to use the full weight of the anti-union laws to deny our members their basic right to withdraw their labour.”

Northern Rail said it hoped to announce details of timetables for trains into Forster Square shortly.