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Christmas rail travel at risk as staff shortages and strikes loom

December 11, 2024

Train drivers have voted to continue taking strike action for the next six months as part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Travel plans over the festive season are under threat as the UK’s rail minister warns of staff shortages and fresh strike action by Avanti West Coast train managers.

Lord Peter Hendy, speaking at the House of Commons transport select committee, expressed concern that reduced staffing levels could disrupt Christmas train services, compounding the impact of planned industrial action.

Central to the issue is the reliance many train operators have on staff working voluntary Sunday shifts. Without these extra hours, operators often struggle to meet their timetables, leading to widespread cancellations on key travel days. Lord Hendy said the Department for Transport would keep a close watch on staffing into and throughout the holiday period, adding that “we’re concerned about staffing of Christmas services.”

Alex Hynes, director general for the DfT’s rail services group, acknowledged systemic vulnerabilities: “We’re over-reliant on overtime working for train crew. That’s a risk, which may be worse at Christmas time than other times.”

Meanwhile, Avanti West Coast faces three days of strikes by train managers over rest-day working arrangements. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out on 22, 23, and 29 December, potentially leaving services “extremely limited” at one of the busiest travel periods of the year. A revised timetable is due on 14 December, with ticket flexibility offered to customers who booked for the strike dates.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said train managers had “decisively rejected” Avanti’s proposals, calling for a fair deal: “Train managers are being treated unfairly compared to senior managers, who receive significant payments for covering these roles.”

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson responded: “We are disappointed the RMT has declined our reasonable offer… We will continue to work to resolve this dispute.”

With both staffing challenges and industrial action looming, passengers face heightened uncertainty and potential disruption to their Christmas travel plans.