The Latest Breaking News from Avanti

Intercity train operator provoked fury last month after slashing services between London and Manchester

Two walkouts in September had already been announced but a third has been added after RMT confirmed fresh dates for industrial action

Stoppage likely to be most disruptive to date after coordinated strikes by union members in July and August

Read the Mancunian Way newsletter for Tuesday August 30, 2022

The service had no lack of seats - but for such a high price, it's hardly surprising

Some services are running up to two hours late, while others have been cancelled

Passengers have been hit hard with slashed trains and some of the worst rail problems in recent history

Tally Bookbinder had to travel to Manchester Piccadilly to buy a ticket after Avanti said they were 'sold out' online

The mayor says he will ask the PM to strip the train operator of its contract unless it restores full Manchester timetable

Passengers between London and Manchester have been affected

As I write this, I am sitting on an Avanti West Coast train from Edinburgh to London listening to arguments break out between the passengers. People are arriving at seats thinking they had reserved them weeks ago, only to find someone else sitting there also holding a valid reservation.