Avanti West Coast issues travel advice ahead of New Year strike action

• Avanti West Coast will operate significantly reduced timetables on 31 December and 2 January
• Customers advised to travel either side of strike dates or claim a full refund
• Less frequent service and shorter hours of operation could result in busy trains

Avanti West Coast has issued travel advice for the New Year when its services will be significantly disrupted by RMT strike action.  

Customers are strongly advised to travel either side of Tuesday 31 December and Thursday 2 January when members of the RMT union, who work as Train Managers at Avanti West Coast, will walk out.  

A significantly reduced timetable will be in place on the two strike days – with fewer services running during limited operating hours. As a result, the trains which will run are expected to be busy.

On Tuesday 31 December, Avanti West Coast will run one train per hour between Euston and each of Birmingham, Manchester, and Preston with a limited services to Glasgow. One train every other hour between Liverpool and Crewe will also run.

On Thursday 2 January, the intercity operator will run one train per hour between Euston and each of Wolverhampton (via Birmingham), Crewe and Manchester. There will also be a limited service between Glasgow and Preston.

These trains will operate during limited hours on both dates – with the first train of the day departing Euston around 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing before 5pm.

The greatly reduced timetables will mean North Wales, Blackpool and Edinburgh have no Avanti West Coast services on strike days. On 31 December, there will be no Avanti West Coast trains to or from Macclesfield. On 2 January, there will be no Avanti West Coast service to or from Warrington Bank Quay or Wigan North Western.

With fewer services running during shorter hours of operation, trains are expected to be busy, and customers are strongly advised to travel either side of the strike days. Customers who do travel should plan ahead, expect disruption, and check the details of their last train home.

Customers with existing tickets for 31 December and 2 January can travel any time from Monday 30 December up to and including Saturday 4 January. Alternatively, if customers who booked tickets to travel on either side of the strike days before industrial action was announced (17 December) would rather not travel, they can claim a full, fee-free refund from their point of purchase.

Avanti West Coast will be operating a reduced timetable across its routes between Friday 27 December and Thursday 2 January due to planned engineering work on the West Coast Main Line. Customers are reminded to check before they travel and if making journeys to or from London Euston to do this before Christmas Eve (24 December) or after 2 January.

Kathryn O’Brien, Executive Director of Customer Experience at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’re disappointed by the RMT calling strike action on 31 December and 2 January. Our customers will face significantly disrupted journeys as a result, and I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.

“On the two strike days we’ll have a significantly reduced service, so customers with tickets for 31 December or 2 January 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.”  

RMT members, who work as Train Managers at Avanti West Coast will also be striking every Sunday from 12 January until 25 May 2025.

ENDS