West Midlands Railway has issued a stern warning for passengers to “only travel if necessary” as a strike threatens to cause widespread disruption today and tomorrow. Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) are taking industrial action on Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23, over a pay dispute.
The strike involves key personnel including roster clerks, duty train crew managers, and control staff, directly impacting services operated by West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway. The TSSA claims their members deserve equal rest day pay compared to other unions, a demand West Midlands Trains—operator of these services—has yet to meet.
Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA general secretary, emphasized the union’s position: “These strikes will proceed as planned because the company is refusing to grant our members parity with other unions. This is unacceptable, particularly given the modest nature of our demands.”
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She also stressed that strike action is a last resort and called on West Midlands Trains to resume negotiations: “Our union remains open to dialogue, but the company must act to prevent this disruption.”
Passengers are advised of a “very limited” train service on both days. Trains will operate on a reduced timetable, with no services running after 7 pm on Friday and a delayed start until 7 am on Saturday.
Affected routes with limited service include:
- Birmingham to Liverpool (one train per hour)
- Birmingham to Northampton, Milton Keynes, and London Euston (one train per hour)
No trains will run on other West Midlands Railway routes, including all routes via Birmingham Snow Hill, the Camp Hill Line, Shrewsbury Line, Hereford Line, and between Nuneaton and Leamington Spa.
Travelers should anticipate cancellations, fewer carriages, and significant delays. West Midlands Railway recommends checking all journey details carefully before travel and considering quieter travel times if possible.
London Northwestern Railway will operate a similarly reduced service across its network during the strike period.