Rail strikes are back with a vengeance as passengers on Avanti West Coast face months of disruption. The walk-outs began on December 31, 2023, and are set to continue until late May 2025. Train managers working for the West Coast main line operator, who belong to the RMT union, walked out on New Year’s Eve, January 2, and January 12. They will now strike every Sunday between February 2 and May 25, affecting up to 100,000 passengers each chosen date.
The Avanti West Coast network covers around 700 miles of track, centering on the West Coast main line to and from London Euston. The primary cities served include Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow, with additional connections to Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent, Preston, Carlisle, and Edinburgh. It also runs along the North Wales coast, connecting Crewe and Chester with the port of Holyhead.
The root of the dispute lies in payments to train managers for working on their rest days. RMT members argue they are undercompensated compared to “management train managers,” who are senior managers employed to step in when needed to keep trains running. Avanti West Coast claims its recent pay offer of approximately £250 for each eight-hour shift worked on rest days, rising to £300 on weekends, would make its train managers among the best rewarded for such shifts.
“It is wrong,” said Mick Lynch, the outgoing general secretary of the RMT, referring to the fact Avanti is paying replacement managers up to £500 per shift, roughly double what the train managers earn. With 70% of eligible RMT members voting to strike, the sentiment runs strong against Avanti's compensation structure. “This destructive approach is typical of train operating companies and stems from failed policies of the previous Conservative government, which rewarded excessive payouts for managers rather than resolving disputes fairly,” Mr. Lynch elaborated, framing the conflict against broader systemic issues within the rail industry.
Avanti West Coast expressed disappointment over the extended strike action, particularly as it affects travelers during what is often peak times for visiting family and friends. Kathryn O'Brien, executive director of Customer Experience at Avanti, stated, “We’re disappointed by the RMT calling strike action for an extended period when our customers may be working, visiting family and friends, or enjoying days out.” O’Brien acknowledged the disruption but refrained from disclosing any terms under which the company might work to resolve the conflict. Customers with tickets on strike days are advised to seek alternative travel dates or apply for full refunds.
Government officials have reacted with disappointment as well. According to a Department for Transport spokesperson, “This is incredibly disappointing news for passengers who would have been hoping to leave strike action behind in 2024.” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized the need for Avanti West Coast to return to negotiations with the RMT, urging them to “see what can be done to avoid action happening.” This indicates the government may suggest increased financial compensation to resolve the dispute. Yet, any potential increases will likely come back to taxpayers, who already cover significant rail subsidies.
Reducing service levels on strike days will mean only limited trains operate. For example, the first train of the day from Euston is set to depart between 7:30 and 8:00 AM, with the last train leaving before 5 PM. The timetable reveals several significant reductions, including only one train per hour to Birmingham and Manchester and just four trains all day to Glasgow. The already limited schedule will disproportionately impact fans traveling to away games; without adequate service, thousands planning to see games won’t make it.
This predicament is exacerbated by the government’s previous commitment to reform the rail system to end reliance on rest-day working and improve service reliability. Louise Haigh, the first Labour transport secretary, pledged to prioritize efficiency and performance, yet leadership has transitioned since. Recent strikes by train drivers, which were resolved with substantial pay increases, exemplify how effective negotiations can yield results. “We’re determined to move toward seven-day working and end the over-reliance on rest-day working,” said the DfT, seeking to remedy service unreliability.
Mick Lynch maintains the primary issue is staffing shortages, stating, “At the core of this issue is severe staffing shortage, which has created over-reliance on overtime.” Increasing staffing levels to mitigate shortages would require balancing months of underemployment against the high financial costs of maintaining additional staff. Instead, many predict cuts may be more likely to balance the books as the rail network continues to flounder financially. An anonymous rail insider remarked on the lack of clarity surrounding current pay rates, noting, “There’s no shortage of volunteer train managers at the current rates of pay.”
Other strike actions are set to cause additional turmoil on the railways, with RMT disputes also occurring over Boxing Day payments for service control staff on the London Underground and Avanti West Coast annual leave entitlements. With disruptions continuing both on the trains and behind the scenes, rail passengers are left uncertain as to when, or if, rail service stability will be restored.