Crosscountry Customers Urged To Plan Ahead Of Industrial Action Next Week

CrossCountry customers are being warned of significant travel disruption due to industrial action by the ASLEF union between Monday 6 and Saturday 11 May.

On Wednesday 8 May, no CrossCountry services will operate during a one-day strike by the union. Strikes at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains mean severely limited options for rail travel across the East and West Midlands.

On Thursday 9 May, planned strike action at LNER, Northern and Transpennine Express will lead to significantly busier CrossCountry services across the north of England – in particular, between Sheffield and Newcastle and between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester Piccadilly.

Customers are advised to only travel if essential and to leave more time for their journey. Some services on Thursday 9 May will be significantly busier than usual and it is likely that customers will have to stand for prolonged periods of their journey.

Steve Hopkinson, CrossCountry's Service Delivery Director, said:
"We’re sorry to customers impacted by this latest round of industrial action. While we’re working hard to run as many services as possible over these days, there is likely to be significant disruption for people planning to travel – especially on Thursday 9 May.

“I’d ask those planning to travel to check their journey in advance, as well as on the day. Customers can visit the CrossCountry website or National Rail Enquiries for the latest travel information.”

Tickets purchased before Monday 22 April for travel between Tuesday 7 May and Thursday 9 May can instead be used on any day between Monday 6 May and Monday 13 May.

Full details of service levels on strike days are available to view at www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-updates-information/changes-to-train-times/industrial-action

Delay repay, refund and ticket acceptance information are available at the same link.