Train strikes: Avanti West Coast services affected until May
Train Managers employed by Avanti West Coast will be on strike every Sunday until 25 May 2025. Here's what you need to know.
Starting 12 January 2025, Avanti West Coast services will be affected by industrial action every Sunday until 25 May. The action is being coordinated by the RMT union, which is in dispute with the company over Train Managers' rest day working arrangements.
92.8% of eligible members rejected the company's latest proposals, with a turnout of 81%. Meanwhile, Avanti West Coast is 'paying £300 or more to management grades to cover rest day working.' A Train Manager's role typically includes checking tickets, liaising with the driver, and assisting passengers, among other responsibilities.
Timetables on strike days will be significantly reduced and any trains that are running will likely be much busier. Reservations will be cancelled.
Claiming a refund
The current series of industrial action was announced on 17 December 2024. Tickets purchased before this date can be refunded, without incurring the usual £10 admin fee.
Refunds can be issued by the station or website where the ticket was purchased. If your ticket was purchased direct from Avanti West Coast, request a refund here. Otherwise, check your confirmation email or receipt.
Even if only one leg of your journey falls on a strike day, you can still claim a full refund for both legs. This applies regardless of whether you purchased a return ticket or two (advance) singles. Again, request a refund from the point of purchase.
Travelling on other days
If you have an Avanti West Coast ticket for a strike day, you might be able to use it on another day. Refer to the Avanti website for more information on extended ticket validity, as this is subject to change in the run up to strike days.
If your journey uses more than one operator (e.g., Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express), the extended validity period may not be honoured by the second operator. Ticket office staff may be able to advise further. Alternatively, it might be worth claiming a full refund and rebooking the tickets.
Season tickets
If you have a season ticket valid for a month or longer, or have activated a travel day using a flexi season ticket on a strike day, you can claim 100% delay repay on that day.
In any other case, if you travel with a season ticket on a strike day, you can claim delay repay corresponding to the length of your delay in the normal way. This includes the delay between the service you originally intended to catch and the next service on the revised timetable.
Strike dates
Avanti West Coast services will be affected on the following dates. Industrial action may be suspended from to time if the company makes an offer on which union members are balloted. If a resolution is reached, remaining strike action will be called off.
- Sunday, 12 January 2025
- Sunday, 19 January 2025
- Sunday 26 January, 2025
- Sunday, 2 February 2025
- Sunday, 9 February 2025
- Sunday, 16 February 2025
- Sunday, 23 February 2025
- Sunday, 2 March 2025
- Sunday, 9 March 2025
- Sunday, 16 March 2025
- Sunday, 23 March 2025
- Sunday, 30 March 2025
- Sunday, 6 April 2025
- Sunday, 13 April 2025
- Sunday, 20 April 2025
- Sunday, 27 April 2025
- Sunday, 4 May 2025
- Sunday, 11 May 2025
- Sunday, 18 May 2025
- Sunday, 25 May 2025
The dates are correct at the time of publication.
To The Trains also maintains a full list of industrial action affecting passengers in 2025, across all train operating companies in Great Britain. This list will be updated as strike action is extended or called off.
