Due to planned industrial action by the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), significant disruption is expected to CrossCountry train services next week.

Because of the industrial action, there will be no CrossCountry on Wednesday, 31st May and Saturday, 3rd June. Passengers planning to travel on those days, and on Friday, 2nd June, are strongly advised to make alternative travel arrangements.

As well as CrossCountry, the industrial action will affect services operated by 13 other train companies . Any trains that do run will start later and finish much earlier than normal.

On Friday, 2nd June, CrossCountry will operate the following services:

• between Bristol Temple Meads and Derby – one train an hour;
• between Derby and Sheffield via Erewash – one train every other hour. This is due to planned engineering work;
• between Sheffield and York – one train an hour with some trains extended to Edinburgh.;between Manchester and Birmingham International – one train an hour. These services will travel via Stoke-on-Trent and Stockport. Services will be extended to Oxford every other hour.;
• between Birmingham New Street and Oxford – one train every other hour;
• between Didcot Parkway and Southampton via Reading – one train every other hour;
• between Plymouth and Bristol Parkway – two return services per day.;
• between Birmingham New Street and Leicester – two trains an hour, with some trains extended to Peterborough.;
• between Derby and Birmingham – one train every other hour stopping at Willington and Wilnecote.

On the days around the planned strike action, CrossCountry will run a normal service but services are expected to be busier than normal.

On the days following the strike action, there may be minor alterations to services for some train operators, and passengers are advised to check with individual operators before they travel.

CrossCountry will post full details on changes to its services nearer the dates on https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-updates-information/changes-to-train-times/industrial-action.

The same link can also be used to find out about delay repay, refund, and ticket acceptance information.

Mark Goodall, Director of Service Delivery said: “The latest round of strikes are set to cause further disruption for passengers at a time when we should be focusing on rebuilding confidence in rail. While we’re doing everything we can to run as many services as possible, there will be significant disruption.

“We advise that passengers check before they travel for the latest information as well as the times of last trains and allow extra time for their journeys.”