Passengers intending to travel on Avanti West Coast services on Sunday 3 December have been warned that no trains will be running due to ASLEF strike action.

In addition, strike action will also hit West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway on the same day.

Avanti has also warned that services will be impacted on Saturday 2 and Monday 4 December as a result of the action by the train drivers’ union and an amended timetable will be in place.

Passengers should check before setting out for the station.  Those who have already bought tickets are encouraged to claim a refund, find alternative transport or rearrange travel for another date.

If tickets were purchased before the industrial action was announced on Thursday 16 November, a full fee-free refund will be offered from their point of purchase. As an alternative, pre-booked tickets for strike days dated between Saturday 2 December and Friday 8 December can be used at any time from Friday 1 December up until Tuesday 12 December.

Strike action is affecting other operators between Saturday 2 and Friday 8 December.

ASLEF members will withdraw from working any overtime between Friday 1 and Saturday 9 December.  Avanti West Coast plans to run its normal timetable during this period – except for the strike day and the changes to timetables on the days before and after – but passengers should check before they travel, as the impact of the overtime ban will vary from route to route, and journeys across multiple train operators may be affected.

Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “At a time when we should be welcoming people back to the railway, its disappointing once again to be asking our customers not to travel.

“We totally understand their frustration and can only apologise for the disruption to their plans. We’d encourage those able to do so, to take advantage of the ticket easement, and change their day of travel. Alternatively, customers are entitled to a full fee-free refund.”