Avanti West Coast has issued a travel advisory for its customers this New Year, warning of significant disruptions due to RMT strike action. The rail company will operate significantly reduced timetables on December 31 and January 2.
Customers are strongly advised to travel either side of these dates or claim a full refund. The less frequent service and shorter hours of operation could result in busy trains.
On Tuesday, December 31, Avanti West Coast will run one train per hour between Euston and each of Birmingham, Manchester, and Preston with limited services to Glasgow. One train every other hour between Liverpool and Crewe will also run.
On Thursday, January 2, the intercity operator will run one train per 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 departing Euston around 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing before 5pm. The greatly reduced timetables will mean North Wales, Blackpool and Edinburgh have no Avanti West Coast services on strike days.
(Image: Avanti West Coast)
On December 31, there will be no Avanti West Coast trains to or from Macclesfield. On January 2, there will be no Avanti West Coast service to or from Warrington Bank Quay or Wigan North Western.
With fewer services running during shorter hours of operation, trains are expected to be busy, and customers are strongly advised to travel either side of the strike days. Customers who do travel should plan ahead, expect disruption, and check the details of their last train home.
Customers with existing tickets for December 31 and January 2 can travel any time from Monday December 30 up to and including Saturday, January 4. Alternatively, if customers who booked tickets to travel on either side of the strike days before industrial action was announced (December 17) would rather not travel, they can claim a full, fee-free refund from their point of purchase.
Avanti West Coast has announced a limited timetable on its lines from Friday, December 27 to Thursday, January 2, with travellers advised to check their journeys due to engineering works along the West Coast Main Line. Major disruptions are expected, particularly as those heading to or from London Euston are being urged to travel before Christmas Eve or wait until after January 2.
In light of the strikes called by the RMT on December 31 and January 2, Executive Director of Customer Experience at Avanti West Coast, Kathryn O’Brien, expressed disappointment: “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.”
She further warned that during the strike days, services will be greatly reduced and advised customers with tickets for those dates to either choose alternative travel dates or claim a complete refund free of charge, adding, “We remain open to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.”
Additionally, RMT members, serving as Train Managers on Avanti West Coast, have planned strikes every Sunday from January 12 until May 25, 2025.
“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 31 December or January 2 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.”
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