Five months of travel chaos loom as Avanti staff vow Sunday walkouts

Train travellers face up to five months of disruption on the West Coast Main Line, as the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union launches a series of Sunday strikes from 12 January to 25 May.

The action follows the rejection of Avanti West Coast’s latest pay offer, with more than four-fifths of train managers voting against it in a recent referendum.

Avanti West Coast, which operates high-speed services between London, the North West and Scotland, has warned that the strikes will cause “significant disruption” for customers, after stating it was disappointed by the outcome of the vote. The company claims it made a “very reasonable revised offer” to resolve the long-running dispute over rest day working and a so-called “new technology payment” for scanning electronic tickets.

The RMT, led by Mick Lynch, previously suspended pre-Christmas walkouts after Avanti tabled a revised proposal. However, union leaders have decided to resume and extend industrial action, blaming what they call the company’s failure to deliver a fair deal. The dispute centres on persuading guards to work on rostered rest days, including Sundays, to cover staff shortages and avoid timetable disruptions.

Avanti, which has endured criticism for poor punctuality in recent months, was the worst-performing train operator between July and September: just 41 per cent of its services arrived on time, compared to a national average of 67 per cent. The franchise escaped an early threat of nationalisation after reporting improvements, but continues to face scrutiny from the government, which ultimately controls its spending.

Industry observers suggest that the RMT may be playing “hardball” in seeking a more generous package from the Treasury, given Avanti’s reliance on public funding. The union’s decision to escalate the dispute with five months of planned strikes underscores the continued volatility in Britain’s rail sector, raising concerns for businesses and commuters alike.