London to Liverpool with Train Strike

There are buses between the cities but they are selling out fast.

Flixbus, Megabus and National Express operate that route .

If you drive from London to Liverpool you have to find parking.

At this time it is unclear what is happening with Avanti that day.

Late last night it was announced that ASLEF has settled a dispute with Avanti regarding overtime payment with drivers getting substantial pay rises. That does not seem to be the same general dispute, but whether it means that Avanti will not be striking that day is murky.

IF they do strike there will still be routes open to London- Transpennine Express or Northern Rail to Leeds then LNER to Kings Cross, or Merseyrail/Transport for Wales via Chester to Birmingham New Street then Chiltern Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone.

The latter route is currently closed at Telford due to a landslide but is currently expected to re-open on 30 March.

But before you take any more action we need clarity on the Avanti situation.

Thanks for the information. It looks like no Avanti trains on Friday April 5th is firm now based on the website language? Do you think that is accurate to assume?

https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/strike

Thanks for the help.

That's changed since lunchtime when it was still up in the air.

Yes that is a definitive and negative answer.

So now time to plan alternative routes or modes.

Thanks. Does it seem reasonable to take the train London Euston to Liverpool Lime St. on Wednesday April 3rd one way, and then rent a car one way from Liverpool back to London on Friday April 5th? Or with all the strike uncertainty is it best to just rent a car in London and drive to/from Liverpool?

Thanks again

There certainly are trains on 3 April- timetable here- https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables, and there is no overtime ban that day.

So I would do that, and a one way rental BUT lots of other people may also want to do that on 5 April, so there may be surge pricing in place. So see what the most cost effective solution is.

It may be that a 3 day rental London to London works out best.

We just purchased train tickets on Avanti West Coast for May 19th. Do we need a plan B?

@jonz81278- Only in so far as you would have a plan B for almost any UK rail journey. The majority of rail journeys in England are subject to strike disruption. Avanti West Coast to Liverpool is but one example.
You will know by 5 May if there is to be a strike on your day of travel so plenty of time to plan an alternative route. The OP in this case chose to rent a car, but could have opted for an alternative rail route. That was their choice- you may opt for a different choice IF a strike happens for you. Remember that the chance of a strike day against any individual train company is relatively small.