Important Travel Advice for Passengers this Christmas and New Year
Rail passengers who use the West Coast main line from London Euston to Carlisle and rail routes in the West Midlands, North West, Merseyside and Cumbria are being advised to only travel by train if absolutely necessary between December 24 and 8 January.
Ongoing strike action by members of the RMT union at Network Rail and many train operators, combined with annual Christmas railway upgrades, will bring disruption to trains.
On Christmas Eve (Saturday 24 December) passenger services will stop running between midday and 3pm ahead of a 72-hour strike until 27 December.
For that reason, people are being encouraged to travel home for Christmas as early as possible this week.
On 27 December trains will restart later than they normally would – in some places after midday.
Several train operators are running a very limited service over the whole period until the New Year.
Passengers are urged to use National Rail Enquiries www.nationalrail.co.uk for the correct train information if they must travel over the coming weeks.
Train operators also have detailed updates on the services they are running:
- Avanti West Coast’s information page
- Chiltern Railways’ information page
- London Northwestern Railway’s information page
- Transport for London’s information page
Dave Penney, Network Rail’s North West and Central region passenger director, said: ‘We’re really sorry to passengers who are facing further travel misery due to unnecessary strike action by the RMT, creating huge worry and anxiety for people who want to spend the holidays with their loved ones.
‘We are working across the industry to provide the best service we can this Christmas, but our advice remains to only travel by train if absolutely necessary. If you must travel by rail please check before you set off on your journey by using National Rail Enquiries or checking with your train operator directly. Due to the short notice changes it is possible train times will be different than those on your ticket.’
Further strike dates are also scheduled for the first week of 2023.
Two 48-hour walkouts are due to take place on Tuesday 3 & Wednesday 4, and Friday 6 & Saturday 7 January. In between on Thursday 5, a strike by train drivers has today been announced by the ASLEF union .
Passengers can plan ahead by checking www.nationalrail.co.uk.