Walkouts across the rail network in the UK are planned to take place over Christmas, after the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) announced fresh strike action. This adds to the four sets of 48-hour periods of action in December an early-January.

The strikes are largely over pay and conditions, with the RMT urging members to reject the latest pay offer. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming strikes. RMT represents Network Rail, who maintain railways, and the union represents staff at 14 different rail companies across the country.

Will there be strikes over Christmas?

It has been announced that strike action will take place between December 24-27 following the rejection of the latest pay offer. Workers will walk out from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 7am on December 27.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We feel that we’ve been compelled to take this action due to the intransigence of the government … we’ve been faced with an extremely detrimental offer and our members simply aren’t in a position to accept the changes the companies have put on the table.”

The timing of this strike will hit the final trains before Christmas, though many trains are not operating on December 25-26, regardless of strike action.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the latest news was “incredibly disappointing”.

Are there more rail strikes in December?

Yes. In addition to the strike action over Christmas there are four separate 48-hour walkouts taking place between now and January 2023.

• December 13 – 14;
• December 16 – 17;
• January 3 – 4;
• January 6 – 7.

40,000 members of the RMT are expected to walk out on these days during the strike action over pay, and disruption is likely to spill into the days around the strike too.

Which operators are involved in the rail strikes?

LNER; Northern trains; Avanti West Coast; Southeastern; Cross Country Trains; Chiltern Railways; Hull Trains; Greater Anglia; C2C; South Western; West Midlands (plus London Northwestern Railway); Great Western Railway; Transpennine Express; East Midlands Railway; and GTR.

Will there be a Tube strike?

There are currently no plans for a Tube strike on these dates. though there may be some disruption at stations affected by rail strikes.

Are more rail strikes on the way?

Currently, there are no strikes announced after January 7.

Is there a bus strike?

Bus strikes are planned to take place throughout December on specific dates, with staff working for Abellio and Metroline walking out over  pay and working conditions dispute. These dates are as follows:

• December 8 (Abellio)
• December 9 (Abellio and Metroline)
• December 10 (Metroline)
• December 15 (Abellio)
• December 16 (Abellio and Metroline)
• December 17 (Metroline)

TfL has posted information on the routes that will be affected

Abellio routes

Day routes

3, 27, 45, 63, 68, 109, 130, 156, 195, 196, 201, 207, 267, 270, 278, 315, 322, 350, 367, 381, 407, 415, 427, 433, 464, 482, 490, 969, C10, E5, E7, E10, E11, H20, H25, H28, H26, P5, P13, R68, R70, S4, U5, U7, U9

Route 481 will operate but with fewer services on weekdays from 07:30-08:00, and from 15:00-16:00.

24-hour routes

24, 111, 159, 285, 344, 345

Night routes

N3, N27, N63, N68, N109, N207, N381

School routes

671

Passengers travelling in December and early-January are strongly urged to check services before travelling.