West Midlands Trains Industrial Action July/August 2026

[Jim]

So ultimately it is about pay.

Welcome to the 1950s and the interminable squabbles between the unions about parity.

Simple question though, regardless of viewpoints on Unions, Railways, etc etc. why should controller grades not have the same financial gains as other grades, for doing overtime?

 

[dk1]

I lived through them…

… ‘I’m All Right Jack’ came out in 1959! (I know it’s nothing to do with railways, but the attitudes were the same).

No way, I use that saying all the time

 

[Horizon22]

So ultimately it is about pay.

Welcome to the 1950s and the interminable squabbles between the unions about parity.

Aren’t pretty much all strikes - railway or otherwise - about pay and conditions? Doctors, teachers, bus drivers, waste disposal etc. There are lots of others that have localised issues that never get reported widely.

Not sure where the 1950s reference comes into it, or how it’s relevant.

 

[Carlisle]

Aren’t pretty much all strikes - railway or otherwise - about pay and conditions? Doctors, teachers, bus drivers, waste disposal etc.

Indeed but I think the OP was replying to a post suggesting not all strikes were about pay & inferring incorrectly such criteria may apply to this dispute..

 

[whoosh]

Rare for TSSA to call a strike. They were jokingly referred when I was on an induction to a TOC as 'Too Scared to Say Anything'!

 

[gembercannelle]

I have an advance ticket which includes a WMR train and according to the WMR website there will be no services on the line in question at all. What are my rights if I choose to travel and complete the journey by alternative means (e.g. get a lift from a friend, as it is not very far)? Travelling on another day is not an option because I don't suppose WMR will cover two extra nights of accommodation.

 

[Watershed]

I have an advance ticket which includes a WMR train and according to the WMR website there will be no services on the line in question at all. What are my rights if I choose to travel and complete the journey by alternative means (e.g. get a lift from a friend, as it is not very far)? Travelling on another day is not an option because I don't suppose WMR will cover two extra nights of accommodation.

If you no longer want to use your ticket and would like a refund, you are entitled to that. You won't struggle to get it, in fact they will try to imply it is your only option.

What is your journey? Based on your previous comments I'm assuming it involves somewhere like Kenilworth? If so then presumably there are still services for the remainder of your journey?

If you still want to use your ticket, you are entitled to alternative transport for the unserved portion of your journey. No doubt WMT would try to deny this if you ask beforehand, on the grounds that "there's a strike" or "it's been advertised". However, neither of these facts change their legal responsibility to provide alternative transport under the NRCoT and the Passenger Rights and Obligations Regulation.

I would suggest you are best off asking them in writing to arrange alternative transport (e.g. via social media), and when/if they refuse, make your own reasonable arrangements (retaining the receipt) and submit a claim for reimbursement to WMT after your journey.

Obviously arranging a lift from friends might be easier but you will probably struggle to claim back any petrol money etc. for their journey because it's tricky to quantify an exact cost they have incurred. As bizarre as it sounds you may be better off getting a taxi - if there aren't any suitable bus or coach options.

That would be on top of any claim for delay compensation if you are sufficiently delayed - again, something they're likely to refute, but they cannot exclude the liability for statutory delay compensation under the PRO. They try to exclude it under the NRCoT but in the circumstances I think they'd very much struggle to establish that this was a fair term in a consumer contract.

 

[gembercannelle]

What is your journey? Based on your previous comments I'm assuming it involves somewhere like Kenilworth? If so then presumably there are still services for the remainder of your journey?

The journey is Penrith (North Lakes) to Kenilworth, on Avanti co Coventry and then WMR to Kenilworth. WMR is for one stop only, and I can walk it in an hour and a bit if need be, which I used to do when Kenilworth had no train station. But I will get to Coventry rather late at night having spent over 3 hours on a train and I will have some luggage, so this option is not very appealing.

 

[sprinterguy]

The journey is Penrith (North Lakes) to Kenilworth, on Avanti co Coventry and then WMR to Kenilworth. WMR is for one stop only, and I can walk it in an hour and a bit if need be, which I used to do when Kenilworth had no train station. But I will get to Coventry rather late at night having spent over 3 hours on a train and I will have some luggage, so this option is not very appealing.

There's no shortage of buses between Coventry and Kenilworth, as an alternative: The X17 (Stagecoach) is quicker, but the 11 (West Mids Travel) runs later into the night. Both run via the railway station at Coventry.

 

[gembercannelle]

There's no shortage of buses between Coventry and Kenilworth, as an alternative: The X17 (Stagecoach) is quicker, but the 11 (West Mids Travel) runs later into the night. Both run via the railway station at Coventry.

This is certainly true, but the train is much faster and more convenient.

 

[800002]

This is certainly true, but the train is much faster and more convenient.

But there is no train for you to use

 

[Jamesrob637]

3 trains on the trot from Liverpool to
Birmingham cancelled tonight, they may as well have already started!

Does this strike only affect West Miss/LNW trains? Any other TOC affected?

Only the 19:13 and 20:13 Liverpool to Birmingham were cancelled? Bad enough though.

 

[Watershed]

The journey is Penrith (North Lakes) to Kenilworth, on Avanti co Coventry and then WMR to Kenilworth. WMR is for one stop only, and I can walk it in an hour and a bit if need be, which I used to do when Kenilworth had no train station. But I will get to Coventry rather late at night having spent over 3 hours on a train and I will have some luggage, so this option is not very appealing.

I think I would be taking the bus, if it runs at the time you get to Coventry. Failing that, a taxi.

 

[trainophile]

Just trying to sort out a workaround as my replacement ticket from Chester didn’t print, and now it seems to be stuck in the system (I’ve emailed Trainsplit so I hope can sort something out) - anyway I looked at Saturday instead of Friday, and have now discovered it’s RRBs from Shrewsbury to Hereford all weekend. Great timing for the strike.

Seems like travelling next weekend is to be avoided at all costs.

 

[peteb]

Handwritten notice at Kidderminster station stating "no trains Friday 10th and Saturday 11th July due to strike". So from this I can assume there won't be a bare minimum service on these days staffed by management?

Any idea if Chiltern running as normal/can they put extra services on between say Leamington and Stourbridge, or does the strike mean WMT-run stations are shut?

 

[Russel]

Just trying to sort out a workaround as my replacement ticket from Chester didn’t print, and now it seems to be stuck in the system (I’ve emailed Trainsplit so I hope can sort something out) - anyway I looked at Saturday instead of Friday, and have now discovered it’s RRBs from Shrewsbury to Hereford all weekend. Great timing for the strike.

Seems like travelling next weekend is to be avoided at all costs.

I'm heading into London on Saturday on Avanti, but I am wondering how over-crowded it may be.

 

[VT 390]

Handwritten notice at Kidderminster station stating "no trains Friday 10th and Saturday 11th July due to strike". So from this I can assume there won't be a bare minimum service on these days staffed by management?

The only West Midlands Railway services will be:

• Cross City Line (Lichfield - Redditch/Bromsgrove via Birmingham New Street) – 2 trains per hour
• Wolverhampton - Walsall via Birmingham New Street – 1 train per hour
• Rugeley Trent Valley – Birmingham International via Birmingham New Street - 1 train per hour

Industrial Action

Strike action by membe

www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk

 

[peteb]

The only West Midlands Railway services will be:

• Cross City Line (Lichfield - Redditch/Bromsgrove via Birmingham New Street) – 2 trains per hour
• Wolverhampton - Walsall via Birmingham New Street – 1 train per hour
• Rugeley Trent Valley – Birmingham International via Birmingham New Street - 1 train per hour

Industrial Action

Strike action by membe

www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk

Ah yes, nothing on Snow Hill lines then...........

 

[Trainfan2019]

So no Stoke services on the 2 strike dates unsurprisingly.

This leaves no service at Stone on both days and very limited / almost no service at Long port. Would EMR make more calls at Longport on those days seeing as it is one of their managed stations?

 

[1D54]

I'm heading into London on Saturday on Avanti, but I am wondering how over-crowded it may be.

LNR are running to EUS albeit a reduced service so it shouldn't be much worse than it usually is.. I'm coming back with Avanti so hopefully that will be the case.

 

[Russel]

LNR are running to EUS albeit a reduced service so it shouldn't be much worse than it usually is.. I'm coming back with Avanti so hopefully that will be the case.

From what I can tell from the LNR website, the Crewe services are starting late and finishing by 3pm, so still leaves the evening return open to overcrowding.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Handwritten notice at Kidderminster station stating "no trains Friday 10th and Saturday 11th July due to strike". So from this I can assume there won't be a bare minimum service on these days staffed by management?

Any idea if Chiltern running as normal/can they put extra services on between say Leamington and Stourbridge, or does the strike mean WMT-run stations are shut?

Management are the ones on strike, as will be control staff. Hence very limited services. Train crew will all be at work.

 

[1D54]

From what I can tell from the LNR website, the Crewe services are starting late and finishing by 3pm, so still leaves the evening return open to overcrowding.

Temporary timetables will be uploaded into journey planners as soon as possible say LNR. That should be Tuesday / Wednesday then if past industrial action is anything to go by.

 

[trundlewagon]

Any idea if Chiltern running as normal/can they put extra services on between say Leamington and Stourbridge, or does the strike mean WMT-run stations are shut?

There were some additional Moor Street to Dorridge shuttles during the last strike. Don't think they called at the local stations though, just Solihull then Dorridge.

 

[newtownmgr]

Handwritten notice at Kidderminster station stating "no trains Friday 10th and Saturday 11th July due to strike". So from this I can assume there won't be a bare minimum service on these days staffed by management?

Any idea if Chiltern running as normal/can they put extra services on between say Leamington and Stourbridge, or does the strike mean WMT-run stations are shut?

Just to correct the first bit. There would be no requirment for management to staff trains as it’s NOT traincrew on strike. ASLEF (Drivers) & RMT (Conductors) are working normally.

The strike is by TSSA and affects Control/Traincrew supervisors & Rosters.

Where a limited service is running the control for that route will be staffed by managers and the likewise for the traincrew supervisors. Hence the severely limited routes.

On the second part Chiltern will be running booked services only and stations will be open and staffed normally as the staff are RMT.

Hope this clears up any confusion.

It’s not a traincrew/station staff (ASLEF/RMT) dispute

 

[AaronP72]

Hopefully someone can clear this up for me!

I'm travelling from Bournemouth to Liverpool on the Friday, connecting through Birmingham. My ticket from Birm -> Liv is for the 12:04 LNR service but looks like it'll be cancelled with the "once an hour" being those at :34 instead. Can I claim delay repay for the whole journey or only that leg? I'll definitely arrive >30 mins late unless the train arrives 5 minutes earlier than timetabled.

 

[Tram203]

Hopefully someone can clear this up for me!

I'm travelling from Bournemouth to Liverpool on the Friday, connecting through Birmingham. My ticket from Birm -> Liv is for the 12:04 LNR service but looks like it'll be cancelled with the "once an hour" being those at :34 instead. Can I claim delay repay for the whole journey or only that leg? I'll definitely arrive >30 mins late unless the train arrives 5 minutes earlier than timetabled.

The entire journey, from LNR / WMR.

 

[Kevin51]

Local Watford paper is reporting strike action on London North Western trains. What is this all about?

 

[zwk500]

Local Watford paper is reporting strike action on London North Western trains. What is this all about?

Strike action to affect London Northwestern Railway services out of Euston station

Train passengers using the London Northwestern Railway (LNR) route from Euston via Watford will face disruption this Friday and Saturday due to strike action by TSSA union members.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

For their part, the union says that the walkouts are a result of the train company and the Department for Transport repeatedly failing to fulfil their assurance that an improved rest day working agreement – giving TSSA members parity with other unions – would be secured.

The TSSA has a bit more detail:

The walkouts are a result of WMT and the Department for Transport repeatedly failing to fulfil their assurance that an improved rest day working agreement – giving TSSA members parity with other unions – would be secured.

Roster Clerks will be on strike on Thursday 9 July 2026 at 00:01hrs until Friday 10 July 2026 at 00:01hrs.

Duty Train Crew Managers and Control grades will not book on for duty between the hours of 12:00 noon on Friday 10 July 2026, until 12:00 noon on Saturday 11 July 2026.

Forthcoming strike action at West Midlands Trains

Forthcoming strike action at West Midlands Trains

www.tssa.org.uk

For service details: https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/industrialaction

 

[dk1]

So no Stoke services on the 2 strike dates unsurprisingly.

This leaves no service at Stone on both days and very limited / almost no service at Long port. Would EMR make more calls at Longport on those days seeing as it is one of their managed stations?

When GA had RMT industrial action during 2018 EMT refused any additional calls at Whittlesea, March, Manea, Brandon, Attleborough or Wymondham.