October 2, 2026 — The RMT union said on October 2 that it has suspended this Sunday’s strike by conductors at TransPennine Express (TPE). Strikes on later October Sundays remain in place, and RMT members at Chiltern Railways are due to strike on two Saturdays this month.
The dates
| Date | Operator | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 4 | TransPennine Express (conductors, RMT) | Suspended. TPE agreed to return to talks. |
| Sun Oct 11, 18, 25 | TransPennine Express (conductors, RMT) | Still scheduled, per Trainline. The dispute is not settled. |
| Sat Oct 10 and Sat Oct 17 | Chiltern Railways (RMT), 24 hours each | Scheduled. Chiltern expects to run “the vast majority” of services. |
| Sun Oct 4 – Wed Oct 7 | London Underground cleaning contractor Mitie (night supervisors, RMT) | Scheduled. These are not train or station staff, and no effect on Tube service has been announced. |
- TPE routes: TPE links Manchester Airport with northern English cities and Scotland. Expected service levels for the remaining strike Sundays: TBA.
- Chiltern dispute: it concerns driver-only operation on the new East West Rail services between Oxford, Bletchley and Milton Keynes.
- Avanti West Coast: Avanti’s own page says no strike action is currently affecting its trains.
- UK airports: a UK strike-tracking site shows no confirmed airport strike dates as of October 2.
What it means for airline travelers
- Manchester Airport this Sunday: TPE trains should run normally on October 4. Recheck for October 11, 18 and 25.
- London to Oxford or Birmingham on October 10 and 17: most Chiltern trains should run, but check the timetable the day before.
- Refunds: if your train is cancelled by a strike, UK rail tickets can be refunded or used on another service. Check National Rail or the operator for the terms.
- Standby travelers: on the remaining TPE strike Sundays, leave extra time to reach Manchester Airport or use a coach.
Sources
- RMT (union) — RMT suspends strike action on TPE
- RMT (union) — Outsourced Mitie Tube workers to take strike action over spycams
- Trainline — Rail Strike Travel Information 2026
- Railnews — RMT to stage strikes over EWR dispute
- Rail Express — Rail staff set for two 24-hour strikes amid driver-only operation dispute
- Avanti West Coast (operator) — Strike information
- Strike Calendar UK — Airport strikes
