Christmas travel chaos expected as CrossCountry rail workers announce strikes

Travellers are set to face disruption over Christmas as workers on rail operator CrossCountry have announced a series of strikes for December.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said its members working for CrossCountry will walk out on 6, 13, 20 and 27 December over long-running pay and staffing issues.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: "CrossCountry has not dealt with the core issues in this dispute and has come back with a proposal that is worse than what was already on the table.

"Our members are still facing unresolved staffing shortages, unfair pay outcomes and broken commitments."

This left RMT members "with no choice but to take strike action", Mr Dempsey said.

"The company must return with a serious offer that meets the commitments it has already made and treats our members with the fairness and respect they deserve," he added.

The Birmingham-based rail operator offers connections to major British cities like Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle, Cardiff, and Edinburgh, so people set to travel via these routes around the festive period will likely see their journeys disrupted.

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"We are disappointed for our customers that the RMT has announced further industrial action," Shiona Rolfe, managing director at CrossCountry, said.

"We've worked hard to make a fair and reasonable offer that addresses the key points raised in this dispute, and we've made meaningful progress in negotiations.

"Our priority remains reaching an agreement that avoids disruption for passengers in the busy Christmas period, and we are ready to continue talks at any time."

(c) Sky News 2025: Christmas travel chaos expected as CrossCountry rail workers announce strikes