Avanti West Coast issues travel advice for latest strike action

• Three days of strikes to affect Avanti West Coast services on 31 May, 2 and 3 June
• Customers told not to travel on 31 May and 3 June as no Avanti West Coast services will operate due to industrial action by drivers
• Reduced timetable and operating hours on 2 June during RMT strike

Avanti West Coast has issued travel advice during the latest strike action by ASLEF and RMT which will result in its services being significantly disrupted.  

During the two 24-hour strikes by ASLEF on 31 May and 3 June, customers are advised to not attempt to travel, as the intercity operator will be unable to operate any of its services on those days. Customers can instead claim a refund, seek alternative transport, or rearrange journeys for another date.

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 31 May and 3 June. Rail replacement services will not be in place either on these days.

On Friday 2 June, customers are strongly advised to check before they travel as the long-distance operator will be running a reduced timetable. This is in response to strike action by the RMT coordinated across train operators.

Avanti West Coast will run one train per hour between London Euston and Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Preston with a limited service to Glasgow as part of its contingency plans.

These trains will operate during limited hours – with the first train of the day departing Euston at 07.43 and the last train of the day from Euston departing at 17:16.

The reduced timetable will mean North Wales, Shrewsbury, and Blackpool have no Avanti West Coast services. Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, and Wilmslow will also not be served by Avanti West Coast on 2 June due to operational reasons.

With fewer services running and a considerably reduced operation, trains could be busy, and customers are strongly advised to plan ahead, check before they travel, and be aware of their last train home.

Rail is not an option for Manchester City and Manchester United fans heading to Wembley to watch their teams in the FA Cup Final on Saturday 3 June as a result of the ASLEF strike. While fans are being advised to travel by coach, trains from Manchester to London could be very busy if supporters choose to make their journey by rail on 2 June – the day of the RMT strike.

On that day queuing systems will be in place at Manchester Piccadilly and anyone travelling from the station is advised to arrive 30 minutes before their train’s departure time. To provide more journey options for fans travelling to the capital, Avanti West Coast services will make extra stops at Crewe and Stafford to connect into Transport for Wales and CrossCountry services from Manchester.

Customers with tickets for 31 May or 3 June (purchased before 27 April) or 2 June (purchased before 18 May) can claim a full fee-free refund from their point of purchase. Alternatively, tickets dated 31 May can be used from 30 May up to and including 5 June. Tickets dated 2 or 3 June can be used on 1 June or up to and including 6 June.

Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’d like to thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding during this time. We can only apologise for the further disruption to their journeys when ASLEF and RMT members go on strike in a week which sees school holidays for many as well as a number of events including the FA Cup Final.

“Due to ASLEF’s walkout on 31 May and 3 June, we’ll have no trains on these days and customers should not attempt to travel.

“During RMT’s strike action on 2 June, we’ll be operating a reduced timetable, so all our customers should plan ahead, check before they travel and be aware of their last train home.

“Any customers with tickets for 31 May, 2 or 3 June can make their journey on alternative days or claim a full refund.”

ENDS