The Government is concerned that Christmas train services may be disrupted due to staff shortages, the Railways Minister said.
Lord Hindi said the Department for Transport would be “closely monitoring recruitment” throughout the holiday period.
Disruptions may also be exacerbated by new industrial events Avanti West Coast Train managers vote to strike for three days over the holiday period.
Recruitment has proven difficult across the rail industry, leaving train operating companies reliant on volunteer staff to work additional paid shifts, especially during large events.
A Transport Ministry official told MPs that the railway system in general was “overly reliant on overtime” for train crews, especially around Christmas.
Many train drivers and other crew members do not include Sunday work in their contracts, with some operators offering additional paid shifts to ensure services can run.
On Tuesday, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said strikes were planned for December 22, 23 and 29 on Avanti services, after it rejected the train company’s proposals for “rest day working arrangements”.
Train managers usually work 41 hours a week, but due to staff shortages they can be asked to work on their days off.
However, the RMT has described the current arrangements as “unacceptable”, with around 300 train managers expected to exit.
Avanti West Coast said customers will face “significant disruption” during the “busiest and most critical” time of the year.
It was announced weeks after RMT members working at a number of other railway companies accepted a 4.75% pay rise over the last financial year, and a 4.5% rise for 2024-25.
But those at Northern recently refused The company’s four-month enhanced pay offer for conductor leaders who work on Sundays.
As a result, passengers may see an interruption in its services in December, the company said.
Lord Hendy told MPs on the Commons Transport Committee that there were concerns that closing parts of the railway over Christmas would increase pressure on others.
Britain’s railway network is completely closed every year on Christmas Day, with a limited service on Christmas Day.
Many routes will be closed for longer over the festive period because Network Rail, which owns and maintains the railway, will carry out engineering works.
Lord Hindi, who chaired Network Rail from 2015 until he was appointed to the Labor government, said: “Christmas is a good time to do major engineering work, because demand reduces over several days.”
Network Rail has previously said passenger numbers at major stations typically fall by 50 to 60% during the seven days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day compared to a week in November or early December.
