Warning over rail strike

CROSS Country Trains has warned passengers to expect disruption after the Rail, Maritime and Transport union announced a strike on some of the busiest shopping days leading up to Christmas.

The train company said the action will significantly affect its train services on dates in December.

It currently operates trains in and out of Birmingham from Tamworth, Nottingham and east Midlands, Bristol, Cardiff, Sheffield and Leeds, Cambridge, Bournemouth, Reading and Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The first day of strike action was planned for Sunday, but more follow on Saturday, December 9, Sunday, December 10, Sunday, December 24 and Sunday, December 31.

The dates will be some of the busiest shopping days in Birmingham as people travel to the city to enjoy the German Market, ice rink and big wheel.

In a statement CrossCountry Trains said: “Unfortunately, the RMT union has announced a number of strike dates that will significantly affect CrossCountry train services.

“In the event these all take place we would advise you to travel as early as possible, as some services will finish earlier than normal and some stations will have no CrossCountry services.

“Although alternative travel arrangements have been prepared we expect all our services, and any replacement bus services, to be very busy.”