TRAVELLERS are in for "significant disruption" in just days as rail workers stage a mass walkout.

       Strike action is planned for February 19 and March 5, affecting train services country wide.

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       CrossCountry workers are staging a mass walkout on February 19 and March 5 Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk

       There will be a reduced CrossCountry service to Birmingham New Street, Leicester, Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.

       Trains from Cardiff and Birmingham to Nottingham will also be affected, with Brits urged to seek alternative routes.

       Scotland and the North East to Birmingham and southwestern England will be held up, while CrossCountry regional services linking the East Midlands and Anglia with Birmingham are set to be rerouted.

       Finally, the service's long-distance trains will be diverted via alternative routes, meaning journeys will take significantly longer.

       National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) members are staging the walkout over the use of managers to cover senior conductor and train manager duties when short-staffed.

       But CrossCountry has insisted it is not trying to undermine these roles.

       Tom Joyner, managing director at CrossCountry said: "We are disappointed that we have not been able to find a way forward with our union colleagues.

       "These strikes will cause significant disruption to our services at a time when we should be working together to welcome customers back.

       "While we remain open to continuing talks with the RMT to prevent these strikes, we are committed to our approach as this provides the best future for our customers, colleagues and our industry."

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       Replacement bus services will be running, and tickets will be accepted on other train services during the strike.

       But passengers have been urged to avoid train travel on strike days wherever possible.

       The impact of the walkout will be made worse by "essential" engineering works being carried out over the same period.

       Major alterations to the track and lineside drainage are being made between February 19 and 27, as well as preparatory work for HS2.

       This will primarily affect Water Orton in north Warwickshire and Duddeston in Birmingham.