Christmas travel plans for thousands of Britons face major disruption as rail workers have announced four days of strikes throughout December.
Members of the RMT union employed by CrossCountry will walk out on Saturdays December 6, 13, 20, and 27 in an ongoing dispute over pay, staffing shortages, and what the union describes as "broken promises" from management.
Why rail workers are taking strike action
The decision to strike comes after what RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey called a disappointing proposal from CrossCountry that was "worse than what was already on the table."
Union representatives stated they have "tried repeatedly for months" to reach an agreement but claim the company has failed to honour commitments on overtime pay, staff resourcing, and wage discrepancies between workers on different grades.
"Our members are still facing unresolved staffing shortages, unfair pay outcomes and broken commitments," Mr Dempsey said. "RMT members have been left with no choice but to take strike action."
Which services will be affected?
CrossCountry operates services connecting major cities across the UK, serving more than 100 stations from southern England to Scotland. While the company hasn't yet published detailed information about which specific routes will be affected, previous strike days provide some indication.
Typically, the operator maintains some main corridor services during strikes, but longer-distance and less frequent routes are often suspended entirely.
The strike action compounds existing travel disruptions planned for the festive period, with Network Rail engineering works scheduled and very limited services expected on Boxing Day across most operators.
What alternatives do passengers have?
Travel experts recommend several strategies for minimising disruption:
- Plan journeys carefully and consider travelling on non-strike days
- Allow extra time and consider travelling earlier or later than originally planned to avoid peak periods
- Investigate alternative transport providers, including buses and coaches
- Check Trainline or National Rail regularly as temporary timetables will be updated closer to strike dates
Passengers should note that compensation is available even on strike days through the Delay Repay scheme. For delays of 30-59 minutes, you can claim 50% of your single fare, while delays over 60 minutes qualify for a full refund.
There remains hope that strikes could be averted, as both sides confirm they are in ongoing discussions. The RMT previously called off a planned strike on November 1 after new proposals were tabled, suggesting that a resolution might still be reached before the December walkouts begin.
CrossCountry managing director Shiona Rolfe stated: "Our priority remains reaching an agreement that avoids disruption for passengers in the busy Christmas period, and we are ready to continue talks at any time."
