Only ‘absolutely necessary’ rail travel advised on upcoming strike days

Passengers should only travel if ‘absolutely necessary’ on coordinated rail strike days taking place on 1, 5 and 8 October.

Industrial action by the RMT, TSSA and Aslef across all three days will result in a combination of closed major stations, reduced services and on certain days, no trains at all on most North West rail routes.

The Caledonian Sleeper service between Scotland and London Euston will continue to run as normal.

The impact of the coordinated strike action by staff at train operators and Network Rail staff on individual days will be:

Saturday 1 October:

Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street and London Euston will all be closed with no trains running. It is the first day that the RMT, TSSA and Aslef will strike on the same day. Nationally, only around 11% of services will run nationally. Although not participating in strike action, there are service updates to the Caledonian Sleeper timetable.

Wednesday 5 October:

Birmingham New Street and London Euston will both be closed with no trains running. Liverpool Lime Street station will only be open for Liverpool to Chester services. Very limited services will be running from Manchester Piccadilly. A walkout by train drivers (Aslef) across 14 operators will also mean disruption for passengers across many routes. The operators impacted include Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.

Saturday 8 October:

The RMT’s second strike day – on Saturday 8 October – will see a reduced rail service in operation. Last trains will leave stations between 3pm and 5pm with final arrivals by 6.30pm.

As has happened on previous ‘strike days’ in June, July and August, thousands of specially-trained and fully qualified back-up staff will step in during the walkouts to keep vital services running for those who need them whenever possible.

With trains starting later and finishing much earlier than usual, passengers are asked to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary. Those who must travel should expect disruption, plan ahead and check when their last train will depart

Tim Shoveller, Network Rail’s North West and Central region managing director, said: “Despite our best efforts to compromise and find a breakthrough in talks, rail unions remain intent on continuing and coordinating their strike action. This serves only to ensure our staff forgo even more of their pay unnecessarily, as well as causing even more disruption for our passengers and further damaging the railway’s recovery from the pandemic.

“Passengers who want to travel this Saturday, and indeed next Wednesday and next Saturday, are asked only to do so if absolutely necessary. Those who must travel should expect disruption and make sure they check when their last train will depart.”

Passengers are also advised that there is likely to be some disruption in the early morning of the day after each strike – Sunday 2 October, Thursday 6 October and Sunday 9 October – as workers return to duties.

Passengers are encouraged to plan their journeys and check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk