Travelling by train in December or January? Strike action is set to cause major disruption to TransPennine Express services

Strikes by RMT are planned to take place on 13-14, 16-17 December, as well as 3-4 and 6-7 January, with TSSA also taking action on 17 December. Action short of a strike by RMT is also set to take place between 18 December and 2 January, with action short of a strike by TSSA due from 13 December to 8 January.

Due to strike action directly affecting Network Rail, trains will also stop running much earlier than usual on Christmas Eve, with anyone travelling on this date advised to do so only in the morning, and only if their journey is essential.

Together, this action will cause widespread disruption to train services, with the rail operator only able to run a limited service on each of the strike dates. The days in-between the strikes will also be affected, with an amended train plan also in place and services starting later and finishing earlier than normal.

Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Service and Operations Director for TransPennine Express said: “Christmas is such a special time of year for many, with lots of people across the communities we serve depending on our trains to take them to see friends or relatives.

“Sadly, if they go ahead as intended, strike action by both RMT and TSSA will cause widespread disruption to our services both over Christmas and in early January, and we are asking customers to plan their travel and only take the train on an affected date if their journey is absolutely essential.

“Customers are also reminded that changes to train times as part of a timetable change are planned from 11 December, and we are advising people to be prepared and check their usual journeys carefully as there may be some changes.”

Those who need to make an essential journey by train on any of these dates should plan very carefully, check their journeys before travelling and allow extra time, as further disruption is likely and any trains that are operating may be very busy.

Anyone heading to a major event over the festive period should again plan ahead and seek alternative transport if they need to travel on one of the strike days.

There will be no TPE services running as usual on either Christmas or Boxing Day. Major engineering work is also planned to take place after Christmas, with customers urged to check and plan their journeys very carefully.

TPE intends to run the following, limited service on the following routes on 13-14, December as well as 3-4 and 6-7 January:

• Sheffield – Cleethorpes
• Manchester Piccadilly – York
• Preston - Manchester Airport

On the 16 and 17 December, the train company will only be running a service on one route between Huddersfield and York.

Further information as well as the latest updates on the strike impact, can be found here.  Timetable information will be added to this page as soon as this is available.

The majority of TPE’s managed stations will be closed on each of the strike dates, with no rail or replacement services available.

Bikes will not be permitted onboard TPE services on any of these dates.