Passengers hoping to use train services from Manchester faced more cancellations on Sunday as conductor strikes continued for another week. TransPennine Express services were affected by staff strikes on May 29, with some services through Piccadilly station among those being hit.
The rail provider confirmed on Sunday that strike action, which has been ongoing on various Sundays since March, will now continue on every Sunday until further notice. And of the limited services that are able to run, TransPennine have warned they are likely to be 'extremely busy', as people with bikes were told they could not take them on board the packed out services.
Passengers hoping to use services from Manchester Piccadilly station were hit with cancellations and amended times. The provider announced that there would be none of their trains in operation on the West Coast Mainline throughout Sunday, meaning anyone wanting to make an essential journey between Liverpool or Manchester and Glasgow or Edinburgh via Preston and Carlisle, had to find alternative transport.
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Other services that were hit included those on the north and south routes, which have trains going through Manchester to destinations including Leeds, York and Newcastle. The rail service announced that amended timetables were introduced due to RMT conductor strikes. Conductors stood outside Manchester Piccadilly station and York station in a picket line on Sunday as their long running dispute continued.
Those planning on using TransPennine services were urged to check for updates up to the last minute, as short notice changes were likely. They were also told to allow extra time for journeys as the services we are able to operate were 'far busier than normal', as well as checking the amended timetables online.
However people hit by cancellations could use their tickets on other train services, the provider announced. An update read: "We have spoken with our industry partners and they have kindly agreed to carry customers who have tickets marked “AP TPE ONLY” or “TPE ONLY”, as well as flexible tickets on days of strike action."
Ticket holders can travel on Northern services until June 6, Avanti West Coast until May 30, and East Midlands railway until May 31. More information about trains affected can be found online at the TransPennine website.
