Disruption: Advice for strike day

[Merseysider]

I have an Interrail ticket & reservations for the 16:17 New St - Euston and 20:01 St Pancras - Paris on Friday 16th December. These were purchased before strike action was announced.

Eurostar seem fairly confident they’ll be running “most trains”, but what of the BHM-EUS leg?

Previous strike days have varied between some trains running and nothing at all - any idea what I should expect on the 16th?

If there’s likely to be no service at all, I’ll get a coach ticket while they’re still available and wrangle it out with Avanti after the fact.

Not counting on being able to (easily) reclaim the cost of the coach from Avanti (£26-£40) but any pointers welcome.

 

[30907]

If there is still a dispute between RMT (signallers) and NR, then reckon on past precedent that the last train to Paris will be around 1800. ES may rebook you earlier in the day.

 

[hkstudent]

First point of call: get a travel insurance sorted for now.
Second view: if Avanti refuses to pay the coach fare, go via the avenue of PRO right?
Third: for coach, book a refundable one.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Just a thought, but it's possible that a Travel Insurer may deny a claim where the policy has been purchased after the strike dates were announced.

 

[Haywain]

Just a thought, but it's possible that a Travel Insurer may deny a claim where the policy has been purchased after the strike dates were announced.

I’d say it’s likely that would happen.

 

[spag23]

My (Nationwide FlexPlus) travel insurance certainly excludes claims for strikes etc that were announced before the Policy started. I can't believe any insurer would cover a known event, pre-dating their policy.

 

[Merseysider]

Thanks for the replies. My excess on travel insurance is £50 afaik so I’ll book a cheap BHX - France flight while I can, as a backup, instead of £40 on a refundable coach which may or may not connect with the last E* of the day.

Just wish there was a little more information out there on likely timetables, though I realise this is difficult to publish until nearer the time.

 

[Watershed]

Thanks for the replies. My excess on travel insurance is £50 afaik so I’ll book a cheap BHX - France flight while I can, as a backup, instead of £40 on a refundable coach which may or may not connect with the last E* of the day.

Just wish there was a little more information out there on likely timetables, though I realise this is difficult to publish until nearer the time.

The last Eurostar services will likely be at 17xx or 18xx, but as it's a Friday evening (and just before Christmas) I think it's very unlikely there will be any seats left on those by the time the strike timetables are confirmed.

Getting from Birmingham to London will be less of a problem - there'll be 1tph Avanti, as well as 1tph alternative itineraries changing at Northampton or Reading.