Train strikes in West Midlands to cause travel chaos this Christmas
Members of the RMT at Avanti West Coast will walk out over several dates this Christmas.
Train managers at Avanti West Coast are to strike in a dispute over rest day working. The service links the West Midlands with London and Scotland.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will walk out on 22, 23, and 29 December.
Union members voted overwhelmingly against the company's proposals.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Avanti West Coast's proposals have been decisively rejected by our train managers, sending a clear message to management that the current arrangements are unacceptable.
"Train managers are being treated unfairly compared to senior managers, who receive significant payments for covering these roles.
"Our members have had enough, and this strike action demonstrates their determination to win a fair deal.
"It's time for Avanti to put forward serious proposals that reflect the vital contribution of our train managers to the railway.
"We remain ready to reach a negotiated settlement and we urge management to show they are serious about resolving this dispute."
It is understood Avanti services will be extremely limited on the days of the strikes and a revised timetable will be issued from 14 December.
Customers who have tickets for 22 and 23 December will be able to use them on alternative services between 16 December and 24 December, while those with tickets for December 29 will be able to use them on alternative services between 28 December and 3 January.
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: "At one of our busiest and most important times of the year when our customers should be making journeys to visit family or friends during the holiday period, they will now face significant disruption because of these strikes.
"We are disappointed RMT have voted to decline the very reasonable offer made to them to resolve the Rest Day Working dispute and prevent inconvenience to those many people who will be travelling on the West Coast Main Line over this time. We will continue to work with the RMT to resolve the dispute."