Avanti West Coast train managers are to stage strikes from the end of December until May next year, after 83 per cent of those voting in an RMT referendum rejected the operator’s latest offer. Strikes which had previously been called for 22, 23 and 29 December had been suspended while the ballot was held.

The charity Campaign for Better Transport has welcomed the Government’s plans to devolve more responsibility for train services to the English regions, saying devolution has already worked well in London and Liverpool. The plans have been unveiled in a White Paper.