Strike Action

Please check before you travel

TransPennine Express (TPE) is asking customers to plan carefully ahead of planned RMT strike action taking place this weekend on Sunday 29 May.

An amended timetable will be in place on this date, which will see a significant reduction in available services. We’re advising customers not to travel, but to plan carefully if journeys are necessary.

The RMT has also announced further planned strike action by its TPE conductors from 00:01 – 23:59 on the following dates:

Sundays until 5 June

Saturday 4 June (Jubilee Bank Holiday)

We will be operating a very limited service on the following routes on Sunday 29 May:

Anglo Scottish Route
Liverpool & Manchester to Lancaster, Carlisle and Scotland via Preston

There will be no TPE trains in operation on the West Coast Mainline on Sunday and anyone that needs to make an essential journey between Liverpool/Manchester and Glasgow/Edinburgh via Preston and Carlisle should seek alternative transport or travel on Friday or Monday instead.

North Route
Liverpool & Manchester to Leeds, Hull, York, Scarborough, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Edinburgh via Huddersfield

Timetable is available to view here

South Route
Manchester to Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Cleethorpes via Sheffield

Timetable is available to view here

We have spoken with our industry partners and they have kindly agreed to carry customers who have tickets marked “AP TPE ONLY” or “TPE ONLY”, as well as flexible tickets (Off-Peak, Anytime, etc.) on days of strike action.

Ticket acceptance is in place with the following operators until the dates specified during strike action in the event of a cancellation:

Northern – Until Monday 6 June
Across the network

Avanti West Coast – Until Monday 30 May
Between Wigan and Glasgow Central/Edinburgh

East Midlands Railway – Until Tuesday 31 May
Between Liverpool Lime Street and Sheffield

London North Eastern Railway – On strike days (SUNDAYS ONLY) until Sunday 5 June
Between York and Edinburgh/Middlesbrough

CrossCountry – Until Monday 6 June
Between Leeds and Edinburgh

Transport for Wales – On strike days until Sunday 5 June
Between Stockport, Newton-le-Willows and Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly

Lumo - On strike days until Sunday 5 June
Between Newcastle and Edinburgh

Hull Trains - On strike days until Sunday 5 June
Between Hull and Selby, Doncaster

ScotRail - On strike days until Sunday 29 May
Between Motherwell and Glasgow Central

You can also use your ticket on available First Bus services in West Yorkshire for customers who may need to use a bus service to complete a rail journey. TPE tickets will be accepted on all days of industrial action up to Sunday 5 June. More information can be found here: https://www.firstbus.co.uk/halifax-calder-valley-huddersfield.

Tickets may only be used on routes specified in ticket acceptance details above and staff at stations, and via our social media channels, will be able to advise you on journey options.

In the event that these be required, we will seek to source and provide stand-by buses at certain locations.

Provision of standby buses will be considered on each day of strike action and customers will be advised locally by station staff if replacement buses are in operation.

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 we are able to operate will be far busier than normal.

Please note: Due to a limited number of services in operation on strike days, we are unable to offer seat reservations for these dates.

You can check for updates on TransPennine Express services here: https://www.journeycheck.com/tpexpress.

Any additional information can be found below:

What should customers planning to travel by train on a strike day do?

Customers are advised not to travel on the day of strike action and, where possible, to travel either side of the affected days. Anyone intending to use our trains should check carefully before travelling as services may be subject to short notice cancellations. Customers should also allow extra time for journeys as any services we do operate will be busy.

When will details of what services you are planning to run be available?

We aim to have finalised timetables published on this page and on journey planners on the preceding Thursday before strike action currently taking place on Sundays.

All the latest information about available services will be published on this page.

What happens if I have a ticket booked for the strike day(s)?

We will endeavour to operate as many of our services as possible. If, however you are unable to travel or choose not to travel on the Sunday 13 February, your ticket will be valid for travel on Saturday 12 February or Monday 14 February.

Alternatively, if you choose not to travel at all then you will be entitled to a full refund or for the portion of your journey that has been affected. To claim your refund you will need to return the ticket to where it was purchased. We will not charge an administration fee for this.

Can I travel a day earlier or later?

Yes. If you are unable to complete your planned journey or choose not to travel due to industrial action, your ticket will be valid for travel on the preceding or following day.

If I travel and I’m delayed will I receive compensation?

Yes, if you are delayed for 15 minutes or more, you are entitled to Delay Repay compensation.

You can apply for this or access more information on our website: tpexpress.co.uk/help/delay-repay-compensation

Can I get a full refund?

Yes. If you choose not to use your ticket and return it to where you bought it from they you will be entitled to a full refund. TPE will not charge you an administration fee for this.

How do I get a refund?

Unused tickets should be returned to where they were purchased from.

If you purchased your ticket directly with us, you can apply for a refund either online tpexpress.co.uk/help/refunds or by calling our customer relations team 0345 600 1671.

Will I be charged an admin fee on any refund?

No, you will not be charged an admin fee.

I have two Advance Purchase tickets booked and the outward journey is affected by the dates of the action but the return isn’t – if I choose not to travel at all can I get a refund for both?

Refunds will be available for both journeys.

What happens if you plan to run the service I am booked on but I still don’t want to risk travelling?

Whilst we will try to run most of our planned services, we understand that this may cause you concern. Your ticket will be valid for travel on the following day of any action and if you choose not to travel at all you will be entitled to a full refund.

Will first class be declassified?

No. On the services we operate we will endeavour to operate them as normal, including First Class.

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Strike Action

Please check before you travel

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