Passengers at Manchester Piccadilly face disruptions due to a strike by train managers every Sunday until late May
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members at Avanti West Coast are striking over pay issues related to working on their rest days. They plan to walk out every Sunday until May 25.
Last week, talks between the union and the rail operator didn’t go well. The union said Avanti didn’t offer any new proposals. Today marks the start of this industrial action.
The RMT shared on X that their members are fighting for fair pay while working their rest days. On strike days, a reduced timetable will be in effect, meaning fewer trains will run during limited hours.
Trains that do run are expected to be crowded. With engineering work scheduled on most Sundays, the timetable may change and take longer to finalize.
Today, Avanti West Coast will run one train per hour from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Preston. There will also be a limited service between Glasgow and Carlisle, with rail replacement buses operating between Carlisle and Preston due to engineering work.
Trains will only run during specific hours, with the first train leaving Euston after 8 am and the last one before 5 pm. Unfortunately, areas like North Wales, Blackpool, and Edinburgh won’t have any Avanti services today.
Lancaster and some Lake District destinations won’t be served either due to the engineering work. Customers with tickets for today can travel until January 14 or get a full refund if they booked before the strike was announced.
Kathryn O’Brien from Avanti West Coast expressed disappointment over the extended strike, noting it disrupts customers’ plans. She urged travelers to consider alternative dates or claim refunds.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch criticized Avanti for paying replacement managers significantly more than their members. He pointed out that this approach is typical of train companies and stems from past government policies.
Lynch emphasized that Avanti needs to address staffing shortages and come up with a fair offer to resolve the dispute. He stated that they are ready to negotiate for a fair deal.
