Passengers on the London to Glasgow main line face disruption to services in the coming days because of strikes by train managers at Avanti West Coast.
Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) at the company are due to strike on New Year’s Eve and 2 January in a dispute over enhanced pay for rest day working, including voluntary overtime to cover staff absences such as those caused by vacancies, sickness, annual leave and training.
Avanti has said it will run a “significantly reduced” timetable on the two strike days, and strongly advised passengers to travel before or after, where possible.
Fewer services will run during limited operating hours, and trains that run are expected to be busy. The greatly reduced timetables will mean north Wales, Blackpool and Edinburgh have no Avanti West Coast services on strike days.
On Tuesday, Avanti will run one train an hour between London Euston and Birmingham, Manchester, and Preston, with a limited service to Glasgow. One train every other hour between Liverpool and Crewe will also run.
On Thursday, the company will run one train an hour between Euston and Wolverhampton (via Birmingham), Crewe and Manchester. There will also be a limited service between Glasgow and Preston.
These trains will operate during limited hours on both days, with the first train of the day leaving Euston at about 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing before 5pm.
Avanti said passengers who did want to travel should plan ahead, expect disruption, and check the details of their last train home.
The strikes also coincide with engineering works and upgrades on other busy lines, with some train companies also making changes to their timetables.
Work is being undertaken at London Liverpool Street station until Wednesday. There is also work in the Cambridge area until 5 January and in the Crewe area until 2 January.
Kathryn O’Brien, the executive director of customer experience at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’re disappointed by the RMT calling strike action on 31 December and 2 January. Our customers will face significantly disrupted journeys as a result, and I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.
“On the two strike days we’ll have a significantly reduced service, so customers with tickets for 31 December or 2 January are strongly advised to travel on alternative dates or claim a full fee-free refund. We remain open to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.”
The RMT union has said its members who work as train managers at Avanti West Coast will also be striking on Sundays between 12 January and 25 May.
An RMT spokesperson said: “Our members have resoundingly rejected Avanti’s latest offers in two referendums, and sustained strike action is now the only way to focus management’s minds on reaching a negotiated settlement with the union.”
Strikes planned for 22, 23 and 29 December were suspended after a suggested agreement was put to a referendum of RMT members.
The RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “Avanti West Coast created this dispute by ignoring train managers’ concerns and presenting offers those members deemed unacceptable. The company must come forward with a revised proposal so we can avoid more strike action further into 2025.”
