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The UK government is concerned about potential staff shortages on Christmas train services, with recent industrial action from Avanti West Coast train managers threatening to exacerbate any potential disruptions. Recruitment across the rail industry has been difficult, causing train operating companies to rely on staff volunteering to work extra paid shifts during busier times, such as the holidays. It has been suggested that the railway system is generally “over-reliant on overtime working” for train crews, particularly around Christmas, and the Department for Transport is set to keep a close watch on staffing throughout the holidays.
The Rail, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) union has announced that walkouts have been scheduled for 22, 23, and 29 December for Avanti services, after it rejected the train company’s proposals for “rest day working arrangements.” Although train managers typically work a 41-hour week, staff shortages can lead to them being asked to work on their days off. The RMT has described this as “unacceptable,” with around 300 train managers set to walk out and customers inevitably facing significant disruptions during the busiest time of the year.
Many train drivers and other crew members do not have Sunday working included in their contracts, meaning some operators have to offer extra paid shifts to ensure that services can run. Those with contracts that do not include Sunday working are particularly impacted during the holiday period as Christmas Day sees the UK’s rail network completely shut down, with a limited service on Boxing Day. It is anticipated that many routes will be closed for longer during the festive period because of engineering work being carried out by Network Rail.
Lord Hendy, who chaired Network Rail from 2015, advised MPs on the Commons Transport Committee that there were worries that closures of parts of the railway over Christmas may put more pressure on others. Christmas is an ideal time for major engineering work, since the demand is lower over several consecutive days. Passengers may face further disruptions to train services in December due to preparatory work necessary for HS2’s Old Oak Common station, which will result in no trains calling at London Paddington between 27 and 29 December.
To finish up, the Cambridge, Crewe, and Greater Western Railway areas of the rail network are also set to experience disruptions between 27 December and 5 January, affecting CrossCountry, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, and Thameslink services. London Liverpool Street station will be closed from Christmas Day until 2 January, during which time travellers are advised to use Victoria line Tube services from Walthamstow Central or Seven Sisters. Heathrow Express trains will be unable to run between Paddington and the west London airport, and some Great Western Railway services will be diverted to or from Euston, with the majority stopping or starting at Reading or Ealing Broadway. During this period of transport uncertainty, the Department for Transport and train operating companies will need to work closely together to minimise disruptions and ensure the smooth running of services
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