Strikes to disrupt Greater Anglia's Christmas train services

Greater Anglia is reminding train passengers that four days of strikes next week will severely disrupt services.

The train operator advises customers to avoid travelling during two 48-hour walkouts by RMT union members on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (Dec 13-14 and 16-17).

Greater Anglia will only be able to run mainline services to London Liverpool Street from Norwich, Colchester, Southend Victoria and Cambridge plus the Stansted Express airport service, with first trains from 7.30am and last trains completing their journeys by 6.30pm.

Trains on Thursday and Sunday (Dec 15 and 18) will start later in the morning – from 7.30am – and are expected to be busy as a result of the industrial action.

The RMT has called a further strike from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 5.59am on Tuesday December 27.

Details are still to be finalised, but it is likely to leave Greater Anglia running no trains after 4pm on Christmas Eve, no Stansted Express services on Boxing Day and first trains on December 27 will not start until after 7.30am.

Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles said: "We are very sorry that these strikes are disrupting people's festive plans and badly affecting businesses counting on Christmas custom, as well as making it difficult for people to get to work and school or college.

"Unfortunately, we are left with no option but to ask people to avoid travelling with us because, as with previous strike days, we are only able to run a small fraction of our usual services.

"We will do all we can to run the best possible service in the days between strikes, from Sunday December 18 to Friday December 23.

"The rail industry has tried very hard to try to settle this dispute and talks are continuing."

Services on December 13-14 and 16-17:

• Cambridge and Liverpool Street – one train an hour, with the first train from Cambridge at 8.20am and the last train back from Liverpool Street at 4.25pm.
• Stansted Express – two trains an hour, with the first and last from Liverpool Street at 8.10am and 5.40pm and from Stansted Airport at 7.42am and 5.12pm.

The RMT has further strikes planned for Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, January 3, 4, 6 and 7.