Strike action causes festive chaos, and train chiefs fear major disruptions in the afternoon.
To avoid getting stranded on December 25, passengers are advised not to travel by train afternoon on Christmas Eve.
According to rail executives, the last trains will depart before 6 pm. This is similar to what happened during previous rail strikes. Some stations may see final trains arrive in the early afternoon.
At the moment, official guidance is that services will end very early.
Sources said that the message was to “check before you travel.”
“But trains will end much sooner, so don’t plan on leaving much after lunch.”
Unions plan to strike 11 days in advance of Christmas Eve. The final timetable will not be released before December 16.
Even though afternoon trains may be available on Christmas Eve (though they are not recommended for passengers), it is best to avoid them running.
After a few weeks’ hiatus, the largest industrial strike on the railways in 2022 will start on Tuesday.
Strikes will be held on December 13, 14, 15, and 16, as well as Dec 24, 26 and 27, respectively. Walkouts will be held on Jan 3, 4, 6, and 7.
After talks collapsed last weekend, all hopes of avoiding mass destruction in the coming weeks are now dead.
Talks between Network Rail, train operators and union leaders on the one hand have been stopped.
Union leaders claim that train operators are refusing to talk after ministers placed a condition in a Sunday pay deal. This would have meant that train guards across the network were eliminated.
Mick Lynch, general secretary to the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT), stated that strikes will continue “indefinitely” if there is a demand to continue to sign up for driver-only operations. (DOO).
Mr Lynch said the union “would go down on this issue”.
Rail chiefs will launch an information blitz Friday to ensure that travellers are not left behind for Christmas Day.
A traffic light calendar was released. Timetables for next week’s strikes will soon be published. On Saturday, a “strike map” will be published.
