BRITS have been told not to travel for a whole month over Christmas because of strikes.

Chiltern Railways became the first operator to issue the warning spanning from December 13 to January 8, with others likely to follow.

Operators like Southern and Thameslink are also warning not to travel unless absolutely necessary because of limited services which will start later and finish earlier than normal.

Many are warning that disruption will continue on some non-strike days because of the knock-on effect.

Services around Christmas will also be busier because of an overtime ban, meaning services on days like Christmas Eve will stop much earlier.

And some operators are warning of further disruption to some lines through the period because of planned engineering works.

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National advice for all operators is for passengers not to travel by train on strike days unless absolutely necessary.

Chiltern Railways has warned: "We advise customers to only travel if absolutely essential throughout the whole period of industrial action."

RMT rail workers begin a fresh round of action next week before strikes from Christmas Eve to December 27.

This week train drivers at 12 firms voted by 93 per cent to continue strike action in a long-running row over pay. Aslef union general secretary Mick Whelan insisted: “The resolve of our members is rock steady.

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What are the operators saying for the Christmas period?

Avanti West Coast – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary

Cross Country – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary

East Midlands Railway – Only travel by rail if absolutely necessary

Chiltern Railways – Don't travel over the whole period unless absolutely necessary

Gatwick Express – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary

Grand Central – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary

Great Northern – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary. Be aware services will be very limited throughout the period.

Great Western Railway – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary. Be aware services will be very limited throughout the period.

Greater Anglia – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary. Be aware of disruption the following days. Be aware of engineering works.

LNER – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary

Northern – Don't travel on strike days and expect some disruption throughout the period

Southeastern – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary

Southern – Don't travel unless absolutely necessary

Stansted Express – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary

Thameslink – Don't travel unless absolutely necessary

Transpennine Express – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary

West Midlands Railway – Don't travel on strike days unless absolutely necessary. Be aware of essential engineering works.

“We don’t want to inconvenience passengers — strikes are always a last resort.

“But the intransigent attitude of the train companies, with the Government acting with malice in the shadows, has forced our hand.”

Mick Lynch’s RMT union said: “The planned industrial action goes ahead as scheduled as there is no resolution to the dispute.”

The union blamed ministers for last-minute demands on driver-only operated trains for collapsing talks.

But Tory MP Greg Smith hit back: “The more unions go on a slash-and-burn strategy to hammer Britain, the further they drive public opinion away from their asks.

“Everyone wants a pay rise, but there is a reality that the money needs to come from somewhere.”

PM Rishi Sunak said: “Hard-working families are facing challenges. The Government has been reasonable.”

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