[EDIT: 20 June 2022] Note that the strike day timetable has been further reduced from the version published last week, so if you had planned on the basis of the first version of the strike timetable you may need to revise your plans.
Note also that Wednesday and Friday timetable has now been published and is severely reduced, with first departures from Marsden/Slaithwaite in either direction at or later than about 0900, and only 8 trains each way all day instead of the usual 25.
TransPennine Express (TPE) is asking customers to plan carefully ahead of planned RMT strike action taking place later this month on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June.
The RMT trade union has announced that their members at Network Rail and 13 train operating companies, including TransPennine Express, will take strike action on 21, 23 and 25 June. The impact of this action, which includes signallers as well as train guards and other railway staff, will mean on days when strike action is taken the rail industry will only be able to operate a very reduced level of service for a limited period of the day and on a heavily restricted number of routes.
An amended timetable will be in place on these dates, which will see a significant reduction in available services. On the days when RMT strike action is taking place TPE will only be able to operate 10% of their usual service, with large parts of the railway network unavailable for services. Trains that do operate on strike days will be heavily reduced and start/finish considerably later/earlier than normal.
TPE are advising customers to only travel if journeys are essential and to seek alternative means of transport if possible.
Customers are advised that if they do travel, services are expected to be busy and to check the status of their service before arrival at the station. Some stations on the network will be closed and on routes where trains cannot operate TPE are unable to provide any rail replacement transport. TPE have a dedicated page on their website that provides the latest information in relation to this strike action: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/strike
The only routes which TPE will be operating a reduced service on 21, 23 and 25 June are:
- Edinburgh – Newcastle
- Manchester Piccadilly – York
- Manchester Airport – Preston
- Sheffield – Cleethorpes
There will also be significant disruption on days between strike action (Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 June) and customers are asked to plan carefully and to check timetables before travelling.
Planned timetables for those services on 21st & 23rd have now been published but are subject to change. [EDIT 20 June 2022 – changed to reduce service further, same timetable published for 25th June]
Customers planning on travelling on days when strike action is taken are strongly advised to check the status of their service in advance as service alterations are possible. Refunds will be available to those who have booked travel on a strike day and cannot change to an alternative date. Bikes will not be permitted on board TPE services on strike days.
TPE are awaiting detail around ticket acceptance on affected strike days and will publish these once confirmed.
Your ticket will be valid for travel on the previous day or the next two days of any strike action and if you choose not to travel at all you will be entitled to a full refund.
If you’re planning to travel on a day affected by RMT strikes you should check for updates up to the last minute as services may be subject to short notice changes. You should also allow extra time for journeys as the services TPE are able to operate will be far busier than normal.
You can check for updates on TransPennine Express services here: https://www.journeycheck.com/tpexpress.