Rail travellers using Totnes and Ivybridge are set to be hit by strike action on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

The RMT union have confirmed the action on the role of the guard. Train managers and senior conductors voted overwhelmingly for action as the company has sought to draft in other staff to carry out their roles.??Additionally, RMT Cross Country Senior Conductor and Train Manager members are instructed not to carry out coaching or shadowing duties from Saturday December 25 until further notice.

Gener?al Secretary Mick Lynch said;

“There has been a systematic attempt by Cross Country to undermine the role of the Senior Conductors and Train Managers by drafting in other staff to do their jobs.”Tom Joyner, Managing Director at CrossCountry said: “We are disappointed by the result of the ballot and the intention to strike. It’s designed to cause maximum disruption at a time when people are looking forward to spending time with loved ones. This is damaging to our industry and importantly our customers at a time when we should be building confidence in travelling by train. We remain open to continuing talks with the RMT to prevent this strike. However, the action will cause significant disruption to our services.”

On Chrismas Eve the company won’t be running trains between Newton Abbot and Paignton or Plymouth and Penzance.

Services are also likely to be disrupted on New Year’s Eve.

Customers are being advised to avoid travelling on either of the two days. Christmas Eve tickets will be valid on either today or tomorrow (December 22 or 23) and they can check their journeys on National Rail Enquiries by visiting nationalrail.co.uk