Train strikes will affect those travelling via train to Cheltenham Festival this week.

Network Rail has warned race enthusiasts to check their route before travelling.

It encourages passengers to plan ahead and warns them to expect longer journeys than usual.

Rail services between Birmingham and Cheltenham will be affected by the RMT industrial action on Thursday, March 16 and Saturday, March 18.

Worcester News: Race enthusiasts are being warned about disruption to travelRace enthusiasts are being warned about disruption to travel (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Strikes to affect passengers travelling by train to Cheltenham Festival

This means trains will be busier and will start later and finish earlier while in some places, there will be no services running at all.

Despite the RMT suspending strike action with Network Rail, industrial action at some rail operators is still scheduled to go ahead and it will impact services running to and from Cheltenham Festival.

Thousands of people are expected to travel to the event via train from Birmingham and they’re being urged to plan their journeys, allow extra time to catch their train and expect services to start later and finish much earlier than usual.

Additional staff at Birmingham New Street station will be available to help those travelling during the festival.

For weeks, the station team has been preparing to welcome the thousands of extra passengers who use the station to get to Cheltenham Racecourse.

For the latest travel information, journeys can be checked via the Network Rail website or train operators.

Steven Ireland, Network Rail’s Central route head of stations and customer relations, said: “Though we’re looking forward to seeing festival-goers through the station, industrial action is going to have a significant impact on passengers’ experience at New Street and I’d urge people to leave extra time to travel and to plan their journey carefully.

“Services will start later and finish earlier which means trains will be extremely busy and queueing systems will be in operation for all those travelling towards Cheltenham and Bristol. On other routes there will be no services at all so I’d ask all those planning to travel by train to factor this into their journeys and be respectful of station staff.”

Nick Chadwick, CrossCountry’s regional managing director for West Midlands & North West, said: “We want to make sure as many people as possible can get to this year’s Festival as swiftly and safely as ever, but this week’s industrial action means passengers should plan their journeys that bit more carefully on Thursday and Saturday.

“It’s really important that people check before travelling and know which train they’re going to get – especially on the way home. On Thursday and Saturday our final services will be as early as 7pm, so make sure you leave enough time to get back to the station and safely onto the train.”