RAIL users are being urged not to travel by train during the next set of strike action dates.

Avanti West Coast is advising customers not to use its services as no trains will be operating across any of its routes.

Strike action by train driver union ASLEF on Saturday, August 13, will mean the operator is unable to operate any of its services along its west coast route, including to and from Warrington Bank Quay, for the whole day.

The action has been coordinated across other train operators, with options to travel by rail will be extremely limited on the West Coast Main Line between London, Scotland, and north Wales.

Many destinations will have no rail connectivity on Saturday and rail replacement services will not be in place either. 

With no Avanti West Coast trains running to and from all destinations on the West Coast Main Line, customers are being told not travel on Saturday and instead claim a refund, seek alternative transport or rearrange journeys for another date.

The strike will affect those intending to travel by rail to Premier League fixtures in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and London on Saturday and Sunday.

Customers with tickets for Saturday can claim a full refund from their point of purchase.

Warrington Guardian:

Alternatively, customers with tickets dated for Saturday can use those tickets to travel either the day before, or up to and including August 16.

Phil Whittingham, managing director at Avanti West Coast, said: “Yet again our customers will bear the brunt of industrial action and will face a weekend of misery as a result.

“With the summer holidays in full swing and the return of the Premier League, this action will ruin many people’s plans.

“We are obviously disappointed by ASLEF’s decision to go on strike, which we believe is unnecessary and premature.

“We would urge them to engage in meaningful industry reform talks around modernising working practices and developing a railway fit for the 21st century, and we remain open for talks at any time.

“Our route will be severely impacted on 13 August, and as a result we are telling customers not to travel, and instead make their journeys on another date or claim a full refund.

“Many destinations on the West Coast Main Line will have no rail connectivity on this day, so anyone who needs to travel should seek alternative transport.

“Again, I would like to reiterate my thanks to our customers for being patient and understanding as our services face further disruption.”

Further strike action by the RMT and TSSA is planned for August 18 and 20, which will impact Avanti West Coast services.