Avanti West Coast customers told not to travel during latest industrial action

• No Avanti West Coast services will operate on 26 November  
• Customers told not to travel and claim a refund or rearrange journey
• Rugby international fans advised to seek alternative transport

Avanti West Coast is advising customers not to travel during the latest national strike action as no services will be operating across any of its routes.

Due to a walkout by the train driver’s union, ASLEF, on Saturday 26 November the intercity operator is unable to operate any of its services along its west coast route for the whole day.

The action, which has been coordinated by ASLEF across other train operators, means options to travel by rail will be extremely limited on the West Coast Main Line between London, Scotland, and North Wales. Many destinations will have no rail connectivity on 26 November and rail replacement services will not be in place either.  

With no Avanti West Coast trains running to and from all destinations across the network, customers are being told not travel on Saturday 26 November and instead claim a refund, seek alternative transport or rearrange journeys for another date.

The strike will affect those intending to travel by rail for the England v South Africa rugby international at Twickenham on Saturday 26 November.

Customers with tickets for 26 November can claim a full refund from their point of purchase. Alternatively, customers with tickets dated 26 November can use those tickets to travel anytime up to and including 28 November.

Barry Milsom, Executive Director of Operations and Safety at Avanti West Coast, said: “Our customers are facing another weekend of disruption due to strike action.

“ASLEF’s decision to walkout means we will have no services on 26 November, and we’re telling customers not to travel and instead make their journeys on another date or claim a full refund. With many destinations on the West Coast Main Line having no rail connectivity on this day, anyone who needs to travel is advised to seek alternative transport. I would like to thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding, as their journeys are impacted once again.

“We all need to be working together for the long-term benefit of our people and customers. So, we ask ASLEF to engage in meaningful industry reform talks around modernising working practices and developing a railway fit for the 21st century.”

ENDS