Picket Line Forms at Manchester Piccadilly Amid Ongoing Strike Disruptions
Passengers at Manchester Piccadilly face disruptions as train managers strike every Sunday until May over pay disputes
Manchester, UK, Train Strike, RMT, Avanti West Coast
Manchester: Train managers are out on the picket line at Piccadilly station today. Passengers should brace for disruptions every Sunday until the end of May.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members at Avanti West Coast are striking over pay issues related to working on their rest days. They plan to walk out every Sunday until May 25.
Last week, there were talks between the rail operator and the union, but the union said the company didn’t offer any new proposals. So, today marks the start of the industrial action.
The union shared on X that their members are fighting for a fair deal for working on their rest days. On strike days, a reduced timetable will be in effect, meaning fewer trains will be running.
With engineering works also happening on most Sundays, the train schedules might change and take longer to finalize. Today, Avanti West Coast will run just one train per hour from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Preston.
There will also be limited service between Glasgow and Carlisle, and rail replacement buses will operate between Carlisle and Preston due to the engineering work.
Trains will only run during limited hours, with the first train leaving Euston after 8 am and the last one before 5 pm. Unfortunately, places like North Wales, Blackpool, and Edinburgh won’t have any Avanti West Coast services today.
Due to the engineering work, Lancaster and some Lake District destinations won’t be served either. Customers with tickets for today can travel until January 14 or get a full refund if they booked before the strike was announced.
Kathryn O’Brien from Avanti West Coast expressed disappointment over the extended strike, noting that it disrupts customers’ plans. She urged travelers to consider alternative dates or claim refunds.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch criticized Avanti for paying replacement managers significantly more than their members, calling it a typical issue with train companies. He emphasized that a fair settlement would be more cost-effective and help address staffing shortages.
Lynch stated that Avanti needs to come up with a better offer and that the union is ready to negotiate for a fair deal.