Severe disruption to TransPennine Express services due to strikes

This Saturday, 1st October, Transpennine Express train services will be severely disrupted due to strike action by ASLEF, RMT, and TSSA trade unions.

Further disruption is likely next Wednesday 5th when ASLEF takes further action and on Saturday 8th October when a further strike by RMT and TSSA takes place.

On each of the strike dates, TPE will only be able to operate a handful of services and is advising customers to avoid all but essential travel.

Because of the knock-on effects of the strikes, there will also be disruption on the days after. To mitigate the disruption, a reduced number of services will run on those days and they will start later and finish earlier than normal.

The disruption will affect major events next week, including the Liverpool FC Vs Rangers match on Tuesday, 4th October, as owing to the following day's strike action there will be no train services back to Glasgow after the game. Rangers fans are therefore advised to plan ahead and seek alternative transport.

On Wednesday, 5th October, travel for the Manchester City Vs FC Copenhagen match will be severely disrupted and anyone travelling to the game should seek alternative transport.

Transpennine Express aims to operate a very limited timetable on the strike days and will operate an amended timetable on the days following each strike day. The latest information on the industrial action and can be found at https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/strike-action

Most of TransPennine's managed stations will be closed on 1st and 8th October and there will be no rail-replacement bus services available. This includes the following stations:

• Middlesbrough
• Yarm
• Thirsk
• Thornaby
• Northallerton
• Scarborough
• Seamer
• Malton
• Selby
• Brough
• Hull (bus interchange remains open)

As any services that do run are likely to be very busy, bikes will not be permitted on any Transpennine Express services on 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9 October.

Kathryn O'Brien, Customer Service and Operations Director at TransPennine Express, said: “The upcoming industrial action by the rail unions will cause severe disruption to services right across the country, and because of this, we will only be able to operate a handful of services for customers on selected routes, with the days following the strikes also affected.

“We are strongly recommending customers avoid travel unless their journey is absolutely essential on 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8 and 9 October and seek alternative transport instead.”