Rail customers are being advised to travel either side of the strikes on 31 December and 2 January
Rail passengers face major travel disruption at New Year after Avanti West Coast train managers rejected a pay offer and confirmed strike action will go ahead.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Avanti West Coast will walk out on New Year’s Eve and on Thursday 2 January in a dispute over rest day working.
The rejected offer followed Avanti management paying £300 or more to management grades to cover rest-day working, the union said.
Avanti strongly advised its customers to travel either side of the strikes and said that a “significantly reduced“ timetable would be in place on the two strike days.
Fewer services will run during limited operating hours and any trains that will run are expected to be busy.
On Tuesday, Avanti said it would run one train an hour 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, the intercity operator plans to 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 dates – with the first train of the day leaving Euston around 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing before 5pm, the rail firm said.
The greatly reduced timetables will mean North Wales, Blackpool and Edinburgh have no Avanti West Coast services on strike days.
There will be no Avanti West Coast trains to or from Macclesfield on 31 December. On 2 January, there will be no Avanti West Coast service to or from Warrington Bank Quay or Wigan North Western.
Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary 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.”
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.
Kathryn O’Brien, 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.”
RMT members who work as train managers at Avanti West Coast will also be striking every Sunday from January 12 until May 25 2025.