“This isn’t about greed—it’s about fairness, safety, and building a rail service on the West Coast mainline that works for passengers”
Liverpool Lime Street station(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Train services have been slashed in Liverpool this Sunday as the first in a series of weekend strikes is about to commence. Train managers on busy Avanti West Coast routes are taking action due to a dispute over rest day work and pay.
Commuters have been warned to expect disruption to their train journeys as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will continue to strike every Sunday until May 25. Avanti has urged its customers to travel on Saturday or Monday if possible, with a reduced timetable operating during the strikes.
In a statement, Craig Johnston, RMT lead officer for Avanti West Coast, said: “As the public braces itself for another rail strike, I want to set the record straight about why Avanti train managers are taking this stand. This isn’t about greed—it’s about fairness, safety, and building an rail service on the West Coast mainline that works for passengers, not just shareholders.
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“Our members are dedicated professionals who take pride in their work. But they’ve been pushed to the breaking point by a company that prioritises cost-cutting over quality service and fair treatment. Their voices, often unheard, reveal the real reasons behind this dispute.”
One manager said they had “lost count of the family birthdays, weddings, and simple nights out with friends I’ve had to miss because I was called to work on my rest day”, while another said Avanti “relied on overtime to operate seven days a week”.
Another union member said: “It’s not just about the pay. It’s about ensuring trains are safe and the service is reliable. Avanti makes massive profits, yet they won’t invest in hiring enough staff. Instead, they rely on unqualified management grades to step in, paying them outrageous amounts to cover shifts while refusing us a fair rate for extra work.”
The Union said Avanti had “refused to invest in recruitment” and instead relied on untrained management grade staff to cover rest day working shifts.
Kathryn O’Brien, executive director of customer experience at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’re disappointed by the RMT calling strike action for an extended period when our customers may be working, visiting family and friends, or enjoying days out. As a result, they will face significantly disrupted journeys during this time. I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.
“On the strike days we’ll have a reduced service, so customers with tickets for those days 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.”
This Sunday, January 12, Avanti West Coast will run one train an hour between London Euston and each of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Preston. A limited service will operate between Glasgow and Carlisle. In addition, rail replacement buses will run between Carlisle and Preston due to planned engineering work.
These trains will operate during limited hour, with the first train of the day departing Euston after 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing before 5pm.
Chris said: “This isn’t a strike being taken lightly and the members and local reps I work with closely would prefer to get a resolution. They make a sacrifice by losing pay during walkouts, and they understand the disruption it causes. But they’ve been forced into this position by years of neglect and mismanagement from Avanti who are now failing to put forward a revised offer on rest day working payments.
“Avanti has the money and resources to end this dispute. Paying train managers fairly to work their rest days would cost less than their current reliance on replacement managers. Finding a fair solution would also improve service reliability and restore trust between the company and its staff.
“We’re ready to negotiate anytime, anywhere to find a solution that works for everyone. But until Avanti commits to fairness and invests in the future of its workforce, we’ll continue to fight—for our members, for passengers, and for the railway we all deserve.”