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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Neil Lancefield, PA & Nicole Wootton-Cane

Boxing Day trains axed as strike action rumbles on

Britain's railways will remain shut on Boxing Day for a second day running as strike action continues.

Thousands of passengers are expected to be disrupted on Monday December 26 after Network Rail announced that no trains will run. Hundreds of departures usually run on December 26 after the Christmas Day shutdown.

It comes as part of an ongoing walkout by employees who are members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT). Passengers were warned about the strike action a week ago, and roads are expected to be busy due to knock-on impact of the strike.

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The AA expects 15.2 million cars on UK roads on Boxing Day, and the RAC highlighted two stretches of the M25 as likely hotspots for queues. They are from junction 7 to 16 clockwise, and from junction 4 to 1 anti-clockwise.

Coach operators National Express and Megabus have experienced strong demand. An AA spokesperson said: :“Traffic is likely to build around shopping centres as lots of people seek a bargain in the sales, meanwhile football fans will travel to see their teams.

Roads are expected to be busy (PA)

“There is scope for localised traffic congestion and more short trips, but traffic should be dispersed throughout the day as people take their time after Christmas Day.”

Airport transfers such as the Heathrow Express and Stansted Express are usually among the most popular services on Boxing Day - abut this year, airline passengers will be forced to find other ways of getting to and from Britain’s airports.

Merseyrail had planned to run a 30-minute service across the network on December 26, but said this is no longer possible following the industrial action announced by the RMT, there will be no trains.

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