CrossCountry rail passengers can expect trains to run as normal this Saturday, 6 December, after the RMT union suspended its planned industrial action. The operator has also confirmed that the remaining Saturdays in December should operate with a full timetable in place.

The update comes ahead of what is likely to be a particularly busy weekend on the network, with Christmas shopping traffic and local events expected to increase demand. Engineering work scheduled across the network will also affect some routes, meaning certain services may be busier than usual.

Trains running between Derby, the North East and Scotland will take longer to complete their journeys on Saturday, with work in the Chesterfield area extending journey times by as much as an hour.

CrossCountry Managing Director, Shiona Rolfe, said:

“We are pleased that RMT has called off planned strike action throughout December, and we look forward to welcoming passengers on board to take them into the festive season. We aim to run our normal timetable on Saturday, but the short time available to reinstate services means there may be some short-notice cancellations. Engineering work on parts of the network will still mean some changes to journeys – if you’re planning to travel, please check your journey before setting off.”

CrossCountry is urging customers to plan ahead, check for alterations, and allow extra time where possible to accommodate the engineering work.

Image: CrossCountry