Train operator Avanti West Coast has issued urgent advice to passengers ahead of planned strike action on Sunday. Avanti will run one train per hour on the day from London Euston to each of Manchester, Glasgow, and Liverpool.
And services to Liverpool will go via the West Midlands - including calls at Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton - due to planned upgrade work by Network Rail between Rugby and Stafford. Avanti bosses said fans attending the Comic Con event in Liverpool on Sunday should find alternative transport owing to what they called 'limited journey options'.
It comes as railway workers have voted to continue taking industrial action in their long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said this week a fresh ballot of its members showed overwhelming support to carry on with action.
Under employment law, the union had to re-ballot its members six months after a previous vote. The RMT said the average turnout among its members in Network Rail and 14 train operating companies was 70.2 per cent with a 'yes' vote of more than 90 per cent. It means RMT members in these areas will be able to take strike action for potentially another six-month period.
Avanti West Coast, which has come under fire for reducing its trains between Manchester and London, although services are set to increase in early December, said it would 'operate a significantly reduced timetable' on Sunday, 20 November
The operator advised passengers to check before they travel and told them to expect longer journeys Less frequent services and shorter hours of operation could result in busier trains, added a spokesman in a statement today - Friday.
Avanti West Coast is strongly advising customers check before they travel ahead of further strike action by the RMT union this weekend.
"As RMT members working as train managers at Avanti West Coast go on strike on Sunday 20 November, a significantly reduced timetable will be in operation – with fewer services running during limited operating hours," said a statement.
"Due to limited operating hours, the first train of the day will depart Euston just after 8.00am and the last train of the day from Euston will depart mid-afternoon, around 4.30pm. The major upgrade work will also mean services to some destinations will have longer journey times, as trains are diverted.
"With fewer services running during shorter hours of operation, trains are expected to be busy, and customers are strongly advised to check before they travel, including the details of their last train home."
North Wales, Shrewsbury, Chester, Blackpool and Edinburgh will have no Avanti West Coast services at all.
"Customers who booked tickets for travel on 20 November before the strike was announced (4 November) can claim a full fee-free refund from their point of purchase. Alternatively, customers with existing tickets for 20 November can use them anytime between now and 22 November," added the statement.
Barry Milsom, Executive Director of Operations and Safety at Avanti West Coast said: "We're disappointed by the RMT's decision to go on strike this Sunday. Our customers are facing another weekend of disruption and I would like to thank them for their continued patience and understanding.
"We all need to be working together for the long-term benefit of our people and customers. So, we ask RMT to engage in meaningful industry reform talks around modernising working practices and developing a railway fit for the 21st century."
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "This union is determined to continue with this campaign until the employers understand that they need to respond to our members’ aspirations on job security, pay and working conditions."
Tim Shoveller, Network Rail's chief negotiator, said: “The only way to solve this dispute, for both our people and our passengers, is around the negotiating table, which is why we look forward to continuing intensive talks in the days ahead with the hope of finding a breakthrough and an amicable solution for all."
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