The RMT said: “This suspension reflects our goodwill and commitment to finding a resolution”
Liverpool Lime Street station(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Train managers on busy Avanti West Coast routes have called off their plans for industrial action. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has suspended planned strike action on Avanti services for the next two Sundays to allow “intensive talks” to take place.
Commuters had been warned to expect disruption to their train journeys as members of the RMT announced strikes every Sunday until May 25. The union now says strikes planned on January 19 and January 26 have been cancelled – though all other previously announced strike dates remain in place.
An RMT spokesperson said: “This suspension reflects our goodwill and commitment to finding a resolution to this rest day working dispute. We are responding to overtures from Avanti and hope meaningful progress towards a negotiated settlement can be made during these talks.”
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Avanti urged its customers to travel on Saturdays or Mondays surrounding the planned strikes if possible, with a reduced timetable operating during the action.
Last Sunday, January 12, Avanti West Coast ran one train an hour between London Euston and each of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Preston. A limited service will operate between Glasgow and Carlisle. In addition, rail replacement buses ran between Carlisle and Preston due to planned engineering work.
These trains operated during limited hour, with the first train of the day departing Euston after 8am and the last train of the day from Euston departing before 5pm.