Many train operators - including Northern and Avanti West Coast - have advised passengers to “only travel as necessary” on Thursday, 18 August and Saturday, 20 August.
Network Rail has confirmed strike action means only around a fifth of Britain’s train services will operate on Thursday and Saturday, with just half of lines open. The days after the strikes will also be affected as 'check before travel’ warnings have been issued for Friday and Sunday, with service levels reaching 70% and 85% respectively.
A statement from Avanti West Coast read: “On 18 and 20 August, customers should expect our existing timetable to be reduced significantly and those services that do run are expected to be very busy. To minimise the number of people disrupted while our amended timetables can be finalised, we suspend sales of tickets for strike dates and the days after industrial action.
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“We’re disappointed with this action, which we believe is premature, and we are sorry for the inconvenience it will cause.”
It added customers with tickets for 18 to 21 August can claim a full refund from their point of purchase. Customers with existing tickets for travel from 18 to 21 August can use those tickets anytime between now and 23 August.
Merseyrail said its services will be severely reduced “on city lines in and out of Lime Street Station on the day of the strikes.”
Transport for Wales said: “Transport for Wales is not in dispute with the unions. However, the industrial action resulting from the dispute between RMT and Network Rail means we’ll be unable to operate rail services on Network Rail infrastructure.
"The majority of rail services across the Wales and Borders network will be suspended on 18 August and 20 August.”
Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “It saddens me that we are again having to ask passengers to stay away from the railway for two days this week due to unnecessary strike action, when we should be helping them enjoy their summers. We have made a good and fair offer but, with the exception of our TSSA management grades who accepted the deal, our unions are refusing to let our employees have a say, and sadly that means more disruption on the rail network.”
Customers planning to travel between Thursday, 18 August and Sunday, 21 August are advised to check timetables and plan their journeys ahead of time.
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