Avanti West Coast has warned of disruption ahead latest industrial action by train drivers’ union ASLEF which will 'significantly disrupt' its services.

On Wednesday, May 8  members of ASLEF, will go on strike and customers are being told not to attempt travel on this day because Avanti West Coast will be unable to run any services.  

With no trains running to and from all destinations across the network during this industrial action, customers are advised to claim a refund, seek alternative transport, or rearrange journeys for another date.

Many destinations on the West Coast Main Line will have no rail connectivity on May 8 and rail replacement services will not be in place either.  

Customers with tickets for May 8 (purchased before April 22) can claim a full fee-free refund from their point of purchase.

Alternatively, tickets dated between May 7 and 9 can be used from Monday, May 6 up to and including Monday, May 13.

Other train operators will also be affected by ASLEF’s strike action on May 7,8 and 9

The walkouts will follow the start of ASLEF members carrying out action short of a strike, which involves withdrawing from working overtime between Monday 6 to Saturday, May 11, as part of industrial action at multiple train companies.

Customers travelling on these dates are advised to check before they travel, as journeys across train operators and routes may be affected.

Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’re sorry our customers will face disruption to their travel plans when ASLEF go on strike on Wednesday – particularly those who will be returning to work after the Bank Holiday weekend.

“Anyone with tickets for May 7 to 9 can make their journey on alternative days or claim a full refund.

"While our advice to all customers making journeys between 6 and 11 May is to check before you travel. We’d like to thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding during this industrial action.”

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ASLEF has been in dispute with the train operating companies since the end of the pandemic and were offered a two-year deal worth 4 per cent annually, but with changes to working conditions attached.

The rise was less than that offered to other rail workers and the union is set to continue strike action into the future.

The union’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, said: “It is now a year since we sat in a room with the train companies – and a year since we rejected the risible offer they made and which they admitted, privately, was designed to be rejected.”