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CrossCountry passengers urged to prepare for disruption as ASLEF and RMT union members set to strike

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  • There will be no CrossCountry services on Friday 12 May due to planned strike action by ASLEF. Passengers are urged to make alternative travel arrangements.
  • There will also be disruption on Saturday 13 May when RMT union members strike, resulting in a reduced CrossCountry services across the network. Some stations may also be closed all day.
  • Passengers are advised to check before they travel.


There will be significant disruption across the rail network in May 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).

As a result, CrossCountry will not run any services on Friday 12 May with passengers being urged to make alternative travel arrangements. The company will run a normal service on the days around the planned industrial action.

CrossCountry passengers are being warned to check before they travel on Saturday 13 May due to planned strike action by the RMT.

The strikes will affect services on 14 train companies with trains due to start later and finish much earlier than usual - typically between 0730 and 1900.

On Saturday 13 May, there will be a significantly reduced service with trains likely to be busier than usual. There is also some planned engineering works on parts of the route.

As a result, CrossCountry will run:

  • One train per hour between Manchester and Birmingham International with trains also calling at Stockport, Stafford, Wolverhampton, and Birmingham New Street. Some services will extend to Oxford.
  • One train every two hours between Birmingham New Street and Oxford calling at Birmingham International, Coventry, Leamington Spa, and Banbury.
  • One train every two hours between Didcot Parkway and Basingstoke via Reading.
  • One train an hour between Birmingham New Street and York, calling at Tamworth, Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, and Leeds. Some services will continue through to Edinburgh.
  • Two return services from Plymouth to Gloucester via Bristol.
  • One train an hour between Bristol Temple Meads to Gloucester calling at Bristol Parkway.
  • Two trains an hour between Birmingham New Street to Leicester via Nuneaton, some services will continue through to Peterborough.
  • Due to pre-planned engineering work, there will be rail replacement buses between Gloucester and Birmingham New Street, and between Oxford and Didcot Parkway.

Some train operators may have minor alterations to services on the days following strike action. Passengers should check with individual operators before they travel.

Between Monday 15th and Saturday 20th May, there is action short of a strike planned. CrossCountry will run a normal service. However, some train operators will have amended timetables in place so passengers should check before they travel and expect services to be busier than usual.

Full details will be available in due course on https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-updates-information/changes-to-train-times/industrial-action. Delay repay, refund and ticket acceptance information will also be available via the same link.

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.”

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