North West rail users warned of more disruption as managers plan strike action on Sunday

Rail users are facing more disruption to services

Rail users in the North West are being warned of more disruption as managers at Avanti West Coast launch a series of Sunday walkouts this weekend in a dispute over rest day working.

Services between Euston, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow are all likely to be affected.

The company say that a reduced timetable will be in place on the strike days, starting this Sunday, with fewer services running during limited operating hours.

It adds that trains which will run are expected to be busy, and with planned engineering works taking place on most of the Sundays affected by the action, timetables for each strike date may vary and take longer to be finalised.

On Sunday Avanti West Coast will run one train an hour between London Euston and each of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Preston, with a limited service operating 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 hours, with the first train of the day departing Euston after 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing before 5pm.

The significantly reduced timetable will mean North Wales, Blackpool and Edinburgh, Stoke-on-Trent and Macclesfield will have no Avanti West Coast services.

Lancaster and destinations in the Lake District (Oxenholme and Penrith) will not be served by Avanti West Coast on January 12 due to planned engineering work.

Customers who do travel should plan ahead, expect disruption, and check the details of their last train home, said Avanti.

Strikes are due to continue until the end of May Credit: PA Images

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.”

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Avanti West Coast are walking out every Sunday until May 25, and Avanti is urging its customers to travel either side of strike days.

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