Trains operated by Avanti West Coast on the line via Milton Keynes are set to be affected by strike action.

Members of the RMT trade union have announced train managers represented by the union will strike today (31/12) and on January 2nd, with further ongoing action expected further on Sundays into May 2025.

The action was announced earlier this month as part of a dispute over enhanced payments for rest day working.

Avanti West Coast have said in a statement that they recommend avoiding travelling on the affected days.

In their statement, they said, “This New Year, we strongly recommend you travel either side of the strike dates. If you booked tickets to travel with Avanti West Coast on 31 December or 2 January before the industrial action was announced on 17 December, you can now use them to travel any time from Monday 30 December to Saturday 4 January inclusive.

“Alternatively, if you no longer wish to travel due to the strike action, you can claim a full refund of your prebooked tickets from where you bought them.”

The strikes means that there is a significant reduction in Avanti West Coast trains in operation on the affected strike days.

A mix of engineering works and the strikes means that today (31/12), Avanti will be limiting operations to just three trains an hour out of London Euston, with one each going to Birmingham, Manchester and Preston, and a limited service going onwards from Preston to Glasgow. The last departures from Euston will be at around 5pm.

As for January 2nd, Avanti confirmed they plan to run three trains per hour to and from London Euston: one to each of Wolverhampton (via Birmingham), Crewe and Manchester. It is also the case that the last departures from Euston will be at around 5pm.

Pre-planned engineering works means no services are in operation to Liverpool, but the reductions also means no services run by Avanti to North Wales, Blackpool or Edinburgh.

The announced plans for strikes on Sundays between January and May 2025 will be confirmed by the operator in due course.

In a statement, 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 have argued that Avanti failed to address their concerns adequately, leaving them with no choice but to call the strike action.

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said, “Avanti West Coast created this dispute by ignoring train managers’ concerns and presenting offers those members deemed unacceptable.

“The company must come forward with a revised proposal so we can avoid more strike action further into 2025.”