Avanti calls off January train strike to allow talks

Planned strike action on Avanti West Coast train services has been suspended for the rest of January.

The canceled strike dates are Sunday 19 January and Sunday 26 January, with the aim of allowing in-depth negotiations following Avanti’s recent approach towards the RMT union.

RMT members, who are train managers at Avanti West Coast, are still planning to strike every Sunday from February 2 to May 25 until an agreement is reached.

An RMT spokesperson said, “This suspension reflects our good will and commitment to finding a resolution to this Sabbath work dispute.”

“We are responding to Avanti’s proposals and hope that meaningful progress can be made toward a negotiated settlement during these talks,” the spokesperson said.

RMT members had initially planned to strike before Christmas 2024, but these plans were canceled at the last minute.

Before Christmas, the union said that before new strike dates were announced, a revised proposal put forward to them had been rejected by 83% of the 400 members involved in the dispute.

In a previous interview with the BBCRMT general secretary Mick Lynch claimed that train companies chose to pay “extortionate rates” for their own managers to work on their holidays.

He said people who are union members are paid at a lower rate.

Avanti previously said it was “disappointed” by the strikes and advised customers to “travel either side of the strike dates or claim a full refund”.

It also warned that trains could become busier due to reduced timetables on strike days.