TransPennine Express services will face "widespread disruption" by rail strikes over the next month and will not serve Liverpool on strike days.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are planning to strike on December 13-14, 16-17, as well as January 3-4 and 6-7. The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) will also take action on December 17.
Workers at the RMT will also walk out from 6pm on December 24 until 6am on December 27 in the latest stage in a long-running row pay and conditions. Earlier this week, the union recommended its members should reject the latest offer from Network Rail (NR), claiming train operating companies still awaited a mandate from the Government.
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RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said it was unfortunate that the union had been “compelled to take this action due to the continuing intransigence of the employers”. He said: “We remain available for talks in order to resolve these issues but we will not bow to pressure from the employers and the Government to the detriment of our members.”
TransPennine Express (TPE) said its services will face widespread disruption as a result of the strikes. It will run a limited service on strike dates and the days in-between the strikes will also be affected, with an amended train plan also in place and services starting later and finishing earlier than normal.
This limited service on strike days does not include trains to and from Liverpool Lime Street . On December 13 and 14 and January 3-4 and 6-7, TPE only intends to run its Sheffield to Cleethorpes, Manchester Piccadilly to York and Preston to Manchester Airport services. On December 16 and 17, the train company will only be running a service on one route between Huddersfield and York.
Additionally, the operator said that, due to strike action directly affecting Network Rail, trains will stop running much earlier than usual on Christmas Eve, with anyone travelling on this date advised to do so only in the morning, and only if their journey is essential.
Kathryn O’Brien, customer service and operations director for TransPennine Express said: “Christmas is such a special time of year for many, with lots of people across the communities we serve depending on our trains to take them to see friends or relatives.
“Sadly, if they go ahead as intended, strike action by both RMT and TSSA will cause widespread disruption to our services both over Christmas and in early January, and we are asking customers to plan their travel and only take the train on an affected date if their journey is absolutely essential.
“Customers are also reminded that changes to train times as part of a timetable change are planned from 11 December, and we are advising people to be prepared and check their usual journeys carefully as there may be some changes.”
The operator advises anyone heading to a major event over the festive period should again plan ahead and seek alternative transport if they need to travel on one of the strike days.
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