The strike dates will take place at the end of this month and in October (Picture: AFP/Getty/REX)
Fresh rail strikes have been announced by the RMT Union which will impact Avanti West Coast train line services.
Union members working as train managers for the rail company will walk out on October 22 and November 6 in a row over rosters.
The company runs its busiest services from London to Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Holyhead, Blackpool, Birmingham and Liverpool.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘Avanti are one of the worst operators we have ever tried to negotiate with.
‘They have treated our members appallingly and this strike action is the culmination of months of neglect and a strong response to the arrogance bosses have shown.
‘Avanti should never have been given any extension to their franchise contract for all the chaos they have caused passengers, and their contempt of their staff is part and parcel of their disastrous approach.’
The new train strikes will impact Avanti West Coast services (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Mick Lynch says Avanti West Coast has treated union members ‘appealingly’ (Picture: Shutterstock)
Last week, it was revealed Avanti West Coast was placed on a short-term contract renewal by the government after it provided an ‘unacceptable’ service to rail users.
It has until April 1 to improve its service following a reduction of its trains, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).
It now runs only a one hour service between London and Manchester – compared to a service every 15 minutes before the Covid pandemic.
This row is separate to strikes over pay, jobs and conditions which led to a summer of discontent across the country’s railway network.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is calling on the government to take action (Picture: Reuters)
Protests have been taking place across the country throughout the summer (Picture: Getty Images)
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, has written to the government demanding Avanti West Coast should have its franchise stripped unless it reinstates the 15 minute service.
He highlighted he is ‘hugely concerned’ about its ‘failing service’ over the last six months.
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: ‘We’re disappointed by the RMT’s decision to go on strike in the coming weeks which we think is premature.
‘This is completely unfair on our customers who will again bear the brunt of more unnecessary disruption to their plans.
‘We would urge the RMT to reconsider this course of action and work with us to resolve this dispute.’
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The rail strikes will impact passengers looking to travel north from London.
