Rail passengers across the UK have been handed a major reprieve after planned industrial action that threatened widespread December travel chaos was suspended.
Strike Action Suspended
The RMT union has called off its planned strike action involving staff working for train operator CrossCountry. The industrial action, which was set to cause severe disruption, has been suspended, allowing the operator to reinstate its standard timetable.
This means a normal CrossCountry service is now expected to operate on the key Saturdays of 6, 13, 20, and 27 December. The news will come as a huge relief to thousands planning festive journeys, shopping trips, and visits to friends and family.
Engineering Work and Travel Advice
Despite the suspension of strike action, passengers are still urged to plan ahead. Planned engineering work on the network will mean alterations to some services throughout the period.
In a specific update for this Saturday, 6 December, CrossCountry has announced that services between Derby and the North East and Scotland will be extended by up to an hour. This is due to engineering work taking place in the Chesterfield area.
Shiona Rolfe, CrossCountry’s Managing Director, said: "We are pleased that RMT has called off planned strike action throughout December, and we look forward to welcoming passengers on board to take them into the festive season."
She added a note of caution, stating: "We aim to run our normal timetable on Saturday but the short time available to reinstate services means there may be some short-notice cancellations. Engineering work on parts of the network will still mean some changes to journeys – if you’re planning to travel, please check your journey before setting off."
Passengers Urged to Check Before Travelling
The operator and travel experts strongly advise all customers to verify their journey details immediately before they depart. The CrossCountry website is the best source for the latest, real-time information on schedules and any potential last-minute changes.
This Saturday is anticipated to be particularly busy across many town and city centres, making advance planning essential for a smooth journey. The called-off strike was predicted to have caused 'significant disruption' across the CrossCountry network, which connects major cities across the length of Britain.
