New Year’s Eve Travel Disruptions: Avanti West Coast Managers to Strike

In a significant disruption for rail passengers, Avanti West Coast will be experiencing a dramatically reduced service on New Year’s Eve, attributed to a strike by train managers represented by the RMT union. The strike, scheduled for December 31 and January 2, stems from a dispute over working conditions, particularly regarding rest days. On December 31, Avanti will operate only one train per hour from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, and Preston, with a limited service to Glasgow and every other hour service between Liverpool and Crewe. Notably, there will be no services to North Wales, Blackpool, or Edinburgh during this period.

Passengers are advised to consider traveling on alternate days or requesting full refunds if they opt to cancel their plans due to the strikes. The RMT union emphasized that ongoing strike actions are necessary to compel management to engage seriously in negotiations, following the rejection of a recent management proposal by a striking majority of members. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch criticized the company’s initial offer as inadequate for addressing the concerns of the train managers, who found the proposed compensation for working on rest days unacceptable. Avanti West Coast expressed disappointment over the decision to strike, while both parties indicated willingness to negotiate a resolution. Looking ahead, additional strikes are planned every Sunday from January 12 until May 25, marking a continued period of uncertainty for rail services.