Rail passengers will face major disruption to services on New Year’s Eve and this Thursday because of strikes on Avanti West Coast by train managers.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at the operator on the West Coast Main Line will walk out on both days in a dispute over rest day working.
Avanti strongly advised its customers to travel either side of the strikes, saying that a ‘significantly reduced’ timetable will be in place on the two strike days. Fewer services will run during limited operating hours, and trains which do run will be busy.
The intercity operator said it will run one train an hour on Tuesday between London Euston and each of Birmingham, Manchester, and Preston, with a limited service to Glasgow. One train every other hour between Liverpool and Crewe will also run.
On Thursday, Avanti will run one train an hour between Euston and each of 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 dates – with the first train of the day leaving Euston around 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing before 5pm.
An Avanti West Coast Class 807 train arrives at Liverpool Lime Street station (file picture)
Avanti West Coast has advised of a limited service on the two RMT strike days this week
Avanti West Coast operates trains between London, North West England, Wales and Scotland
The greatly reduced timetables will mean North Wales, Blackpool and Edinburgh have no Avanti services on strike days.
Tomorrow, there will be no Avanti trains to or from Macclesfield.
And on Thursday, there will be no Avanti service to or from Warrington Bank Quay or Wigan North Western.
Avanti said passengers who do travel should plan ahead, expect disruption, and check the details of their last train home.
Kathryn O’Brien, executive director of customer experience at Avanti West Coast, said: ‘We’re disappointed by the RMT calling strike action on December 31 and January 2.
‘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 December 31 or January 2 are strongly advised to travel on alternative dates or claim a full fee-free refund.Â
‘We remain open to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.’
RMT members who work as train managers at Avanti will also be striking every Sunday from January 12 until May 25, 2025.
An RMT spokesman 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.’
The RMT claimed that the rejected offer ‘followed Avanti management paying £300 or more to management grades to cover rest day working’, adding that train managers ‘argue that Avanti has failed to address their concerns adequately, leading to the action’.
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.’
The RMT added that union ‘remains open to resolving the issue and urges Avanti to take immediate action’.
Previously, on December 13, Avanti strikes planned for December 22, 23 and 29 were suspended after a suggested agreement was put to a referendum of RMT members. But this was rejected, leading to the latest action.
It comes as the UK is braced for a stormy start to 2025 with heavy snow, rain and wind expected to cause travel disruption over New Year’s Eve.
Almost every part of the UK is covered by at least one of the multiple weather warnings that have been issued by the Met Office between today and Thursday.