On strike days about one train in four is running, during limited hours, between London Euston, the West Midlands and northwest England. Rail strikes are back with a vengeance. Passengers on Avanti West Coast face months of disruption. Walk-outs began on 31 December and are set to continue until the late May bank holiday weekend. Train managers working for the West Coast main line operator and who belong to the RMT union walked out on New Year’s Eve, Thursday 2 January and Sunday 12 January. They will now strike every Sunday between 2 February and 25 May – a total of 17 more days, disrupting the plans of up to 100,000 passengers for each of the chosen dates.

These are the key questions and answers. The main network covers around 700 miles of track. It centres on the West Coast main line to and from London Euston. The main cities served are:. Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent, Preston, Carlisle and Edinburgh are among the other cities on the network. In addition, Avanti West Coast runs along the North Wales coast, connecting Crewe and Chester with the port of Holyhead.

Payments to train managers for working on their rest days. RMT members say they are poorly rewarded compared with the sums earned by “management train managers”. These are senior managers employed in desk-based roles for Avanti West Coast, who have been trained to stand in as train managers when essential to keep trains running. An improved offer from the rail firm was put to union members, which Avanti says is worth around £250 for each eight-hour shift worked on a rest day, or £300 at weekends.

Train drivers employed by Avanti earn a flat £600 for working on a day off. In a referendum on the improved pay offer, train managers resoundingly rejected it; seven out of 10 of all those eligible to vote were in favour of walking out. “This destructive approach is typical of train operating companies and stems from the failed policies of the previous Conservative government, which rewarded excessive payouts for managers rather than resolving disputes fairly,” Mr Lynch said.

Kathryn O’Brien, executive director of Customer Experience at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’re disappointed by the RMT calling strike action for an extended period when our customers may be working, visiting family and friends, or enjoying days out. “As a result, they will face significantly disrupted journeys during this time. I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding. “On the strike days we’ll have a reduced service, so customers with tickets for those days 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.”.

The train operator believes its offer will make Avanti West Coast train managers among the best rewarded in the business for rest-day working. After the strike call, a Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said: “This is incredibly disappointing news for passengers who would have been hoping to leave strike action in 2024.”. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has put the ball firmly in the rail firm’s court. She told Sky News: “What I want to see happen is for the leadership of Avanti West Coast, which is currently a privately owned train operating company, to get back round the table with the RMT to see what can be done to avoid action happening.”.

In other words, offer more cash. Ultimately, though, extra payments would be funded by the taxpayer. A significantly reduced timetable is in place on strike days. Fewer services run during sharply reduced operating hours. The first train of the day departs Euston at 7.30-8am and the last train of the day will leave before 5pm. The Independent has analysed the published timetable and has identified the following service levels from Lonodn Euston:.

Management train managers are deployed to run these trains. North Wales, Blackpool and Edinburgh will have no Avanti West Coast services. “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,” says Avanti West Coast. “Customers who do travel should plan ahead, expect disruption, and check the details of their last train home.”.

Thousands of football fans planning to go to away games will be unable to travel by train. Arsenal are hosting Manchester City on 2 February, while Manchester United are at home for Crystal Palace. Many away fans for both matches would normally expect to travel on Avanti West Coast trains. Yes. The first Labour transport secretary, Louise Haigh, vowed to “focus relentlessly” on improving performance on the railways and introduce “much-needed rail reform”.

Train drivers, who had been in a pay dispute for two years, received a 15 per cent settlement – covering three years – and ended their dispute. Since then Ms Haigh has since been replaced by Heidi Alexander. A DfT spokesperson said: “As part of our plans to reform the railways, we’re determined to move towards a seven-day working week and end the over-reliance on rest day working, giving passengers the certainty and reliability they deserve.”.