Rail passengers are being warned of severely disrupted train services in the first week of 2023 as two rail unions take strike action over five days between them.
Two 48-hour walkouts by Network Rail staff in the RMT union on Tuesday 3 & Wednesday 4, and Friday 6 & Saturday 7 January, will see just nine trains per hour serving Birmingham New Street over reduced operating hours.
That’s compared to an average of 40 trains leaving every hour on a normal weekday.
Nationally 20% of services will run on just 50% of the network – most branch lines will have no trains at all.
Trains will start later from 7.30am with last long distance departures between 3 and 5pm.
Birmingham New Street station itself will close entirely by 7pm and passengers are being warned not to get caught out by the much earlier finish.
Then on Thursday 5 January train drivers in the ASLEF union will go on strike at 15 train companies across the country*.
It will mean no trains at all for the following operators which run services in and out of Birmingham’s stations:
- Avanti West Coast – Click the link for more detail
- CrossCountry – Click the link for more detail
- West Midlands Railway – Click the link for more detail
- London Northwestern Railway – Click the link for more detail
- Chiltern Railways – Click the link for more detail
Transport for Wales, which is not part of the ASLEF dispute, will also run no trains to Birmingham New Street.
Steven Ireland, Network Rail’s director of stations for Birmingham New Street, said: “Of course this is not the start to the year we want for rail passengers who have suffered all Christmas because of unnecessary strike action.
“But with five straight days of strikes I’d urge passengers to once again only travel if absolutely necessary with very limited trains running over reduced hours next week. Please check National Rail Enquiries and consider travelling on another day – any pre-booked tickets will be valid up to and including January 10**.
“We know how frustrating this period will be for passengers as strike action has such a huge impact on running a decent service. Our station staff will be doing their very best to get people to where they want to go and we’d ask for patience and forbearance as we have seen an alarming rise in verbal abuse directed at staff during these difficult periods.”
Passengers planning on travelling into Birmingham and around the wider West Midlands on strike days should only do so if absolutely necessary.
Those who still must travel should check www.nationalrail.co.uk so they know exactly what to expect.
Photo credit: Network Rail
