Avanti West Coast has announced that its services will be disrupted this Saturday, 29th July, because of a 24-hour strike by members of the RMT union that is being coordinated across 14 train operators.

As a result, trains that do run will be busier than normal as the company will be operating to a limited timetable and reduced operating hours.

Trains that do run will not depart from Euston until after 7 am and the last train of the day will depart from Euston soon after 5 pm.

• There will be one train per hour between London Euston and Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, and Birmingham;
  There will be a limited service to Glasgow;
• No Avanti West Coast services will operate to Shrewsbury, North Wales, Chester, Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, Blackpool, or Edinburgh.

Because there will be fewer services, customers should check before they travel and be aware of the time of their last train home.

On Sunday 30 July, planned upgrade work by Network Rail will take place between Rugby and Stafford and Avanti West Coast services will operate to a reduced timetable. Customers intending to travel on Sunday should check before they travel and expect longer journeys as trains will be diverted.

Anyone with a travel ticket for 29th July that was purchased before 22nd June can claim a full fee-free refund from where they bought their ticket. Alternatively, tickets for travel dated 29th July can be used on Friday, 28th July or any day up to and including 1 August.

Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’re sorry our customers will have their journeys disrupted for another day this month because of this latest strike action. It will no doubt affect many who have made plans for this weekend, and I would like to thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding.

“We’ll be operating a reduced timetable during this strike, so our customers should plan their journeys, check before they travel and be aware of their last train home.

“Any customers with tickets dated 29 July can make their journey on alternative days or claim a full refund.”