A train operator has issued advice to customers ahead of planned strike action.

Avanti West Coast will operate an amended timetable on March 16 and 18 while RMT members strike.

Customers are urged to check before they travel and confirm the times of last trains

Shorter hours of operation, less frequent stops and a significantly reduced service mean trains could be busy

Two 24-hour strikes by RMT members across train operators on March 16 and 18 will result in the intercity operator running less than a third of its normal timetable.

Customers who chose not to travel are able to claim a refund from their point of purchase.

As part of its strike contingency plans, Avanti West Coast will run one train per hour between Euston and each of Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Preston, with a limited number extended to Carlisle.

These trains will operate during limited hours, with the first train of the day departing Euston just before 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing mid-afternoon.  

The significantly reduced timetable will mean North Wales, Shrewsbury, and Blackpool have no Avanti West Coast services on the strike days.

As a result of engineering work, there are no direct trains to Scotland.

Rail replacement services to both Glasgow Central and Edinburgh are available from Carlisle, in addition to a number of Scotrail services via Dumfries.

In addition, services on the days following the strikes (March 17 and 19) will start later.

Trains running on these days are likely to be extremely busy.

Tickets dated March 16 and 18 can be used the day before the date on the ticket, or up to and including Tuesday, April 4.

Barry Milsom, executive director of operations and safety at Avanti West Coast, said: “Yet again our customers will have to face further disruption to their plans due to this unnecessary strike action.

“I can only thank our customers again for their patience and understanding and urge the RMT and work with us to modernise working practices and develop a railway fit for the 21st century."

Due to the different signalling system in use on some parts of the West Coast Main Line, which is more resource-intensive to operate, the intercity operator is unable to stop trains at Stoke-on-Trent and Macclesfield which will not be open.

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