A series of weekend strikes by train managers is under way and is set to cause disruption on busy rail routes until May. 

Managers for Avanti West Coast who are part of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) launched a walkout campaign on Sunday 12 January in a dispute over rest day working.

The strike action will be repeated every Sunday until 25 May.

Here is everything you need to know.

What happened on Sunday?

RMT members mounted picket lines outside stations including London Euston, Liverpool and Edinburgh on Sunday in the walkout in a dispute over rest day working.

A reduced timetable was in place, with fewer services running during limited operating hours.

The following areas had no Avanti services:

• North Wales
• Blackpool
• Edinburgh
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Lancaster and Oxenholme and Penrith in the Lake District also had no Avanti service due to planned engineering work

What will the impact be long-term?

Every Sunday until 25 May, a reduced timetable will be in place on the strike days, with fewer services running during limited operating hours.

But Avanti has warned that most of the Sunday strikes coincide with planned engineering works, meaning the timetables for each strike date may vary and take longer to be finalised.

Are any other operators affected?

Train drivers union Aslef announced it is to ballot its members on Hull Trains for strikes over the sacking of a union member.

Aslef said the driver had been unfairly sacked, but the company insisted it had followed correct procedures following an investigation.

Voting will start on 20 January with the result due on 12 February.

What has Avanti said?

Avanti has urged its customers to try to avoid travelling on Sundays until the strikes end.

It adds customers who do travel should plan ahead, expect disruption, and check the details of their last train home.

Kathryn O’Brien, Avanti’s executive director of customer experience, said: “We’re disappointed by the RMT calling strike action for an extended period when our customers may be working, visiting family and friends, or enjoying days out.

“As a result, they will face significantly disrupted journeys during this time.

“I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.

“On the strike days, we’ll have a reduced service, so customers with tickets for those days are strongly advised to travel on alternative dates or claim a full fee-free refund. We remain open to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.”

What has the RMT said?

“Our members have resoundingly rejected Avanti’s latest offers in two referendums and sustained strike action is now the only way to focus management’s minds on reaching a negotiated settlement with the union,” a spokesperson said.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, who announced his retirement on Thursday, previously said: “Avanti West Coast created this dispute by ignoring train managers’ concerns and presenting offers those members deemed unacceptable.

“The company must come forward with a revised proposal so we can avoid more strike action further into 2025.”