CrossCountry passengers face significant travel disruption over the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend as members of the RMT union, including Train Managers and Senior Conductors, will strike on Saturday, August 23, and Monday, August 25.
The industrial action means no CrossCountry services will run on Saturday, as the holiday weekend limits the availability of managers who might otherwise operate a reduced timetable. On Monday, a very limited service will operate between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, but passengers should expect crowded trains and potential delays.
Key affected routes include the complete suspension of services between Birmingham, Reading, and the South Coast, as well as between Leicester, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport. Only minimal service will run to the South West and north of York.
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Plans for engineering work in the West Midlands on Monday will further impact journeys, causing additional delays on whichever services do operate.
Shiona Rolfe, CrossCountry’s Managing Director, expressed regret over the strike’s timing, stating: “We are disappointed for our passengers that the RMT has announced strikes on Saturday 23 and Monday 25 August. It is hugely disappointing to not operate any services on Saturday, knowing the inevitable disruption to many of our passengers’ journeys over the Bank Holiday weekend. We are committed to reaching an agreement with the RMT and remain available to continue talks.”
Passengers are strongly advised to avoid travel on Saturday and to check latest updates before traveling on Monday. Information regarding alternative travel options and compensation through Delay Repay can be found on the CrossCountry website and National Rail Enquiries.