Avanti West Coast issues travel advice for latest strike action

• Avanti West Coast will operate significantly reduced timetable on 20 November
• Customers advised to check before they travel and expect longer journeys
• Less frequent service and shorter hours of operation could result in busy trains

Avanti West Coast is strongly advising customers check before they travel ahead of further strike action by the RMT union this weekend.

As RMT members working as Train Managers at Avanti West Coast go on strike on Sunday 20 November, a significantly reduced timetable will be in operation – with fewer services running during limited operating hours.

On Sunday, the inter-city operator run one train per hour from London Euston to each of Manchester, Glasgow, and Liverpool, with services to Liverpool going via the West Midlands (including calls at Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton) due to planned upgrade work by Network Rail between Rugby and Stafford.  

Due to limited operating hours, the first train of the day will depart Euston just after 8.00am and the last train of the day from Euston will depart mid-afternoon, around 4.30pm. The major upgrade work will also mean services to some destinations will have longer journey times, as trains are diverted.

Due to the limited journey options, fans attending the Comic Con event in Liverpool are advised to find alternative transport.

North Wales, Shrewsbury, Chester, Blackpool and Edinburgh will have no Avanti West Coast services because the timetable is significantly reduced.

With fewer services running during shorter hours of operation, trains are expected to be busy, and customers are strongly advised to check before they travel, including the details of their last train home.

Customers who booked tickets for travel on 20 November before the strike was announced (4 November) can claim a full fee-free refund from their point of purchase. Alternatively, customers with existing tickets for 20 November can use them anytime between now and 22 November.

Barry Milsom, Executive Director of Operations and Safety at Avanti West Coast said: “We’re disappointed by the RMT's decision to go on strike this Sunday. Our customers are facing another weekend of disruption and I would like to thank them for their continued patience and understanding.

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

ENDS