A crippling five-month-long series of railway strikes set to begin today are expected to cost the hospitality sector £1billion.

Train managers at Avanti West Coast who are part of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) will walk out every Sunday until May 25 in a row over rest-day shifts.

It comes after Mick Lynch announced his decision to retire from the RMT aged 63 after four years as its £130,000-a-year general secretary.

The latest wave of disruption will be another blow to venues which have already lost £6 billion in sales from rail strikes in less than three years.

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), which represents restaurants, clubs, bars and casinos, warned of an estimated £1 billion revenue hit to the sector from the latest industrial action.

Chief executive Michael Kill said Labour’s ‘inability to resolve this crisis continues to paralyse the UK economy‘, adding: ‘If the Government cannot bring unions and operators to the table for a meaningful resolution, the UK risks deeper economic losses. The time for inaction has passed – leadership is urgently needed.’

UKHospitality chief Kate Nicholls said: ‘There is no doubt this action will come as a blow to businesses at what is always a more difficult time of year for the sector.’

Avanti, owned by Scottish-based FirstGroup and Italian company Trenitalia, is facing nationalisation under Labour due to its poor performance on the West Coast Mainline.

Passengers get off a train as they travel through Euston station during a strike action by Avanti West Coast train service managers

Train managers at Avanti West Coast who are part of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers ( RMT ) will walk out every Sunday until May 25

On strike days, Avanti will run only one train an hour between London Euston (pictured) and Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Preston, with limited service from Carlisle to Glasgow

It comes after Mick Lynch announced his decision to retire from the RMT at the age of 63

Rail barons want an extra £300 for Avanti managers willing to work on their days off. But the RMT, advocating for 400 staff in this dispute, claims that replacement managers can be paid £500 per shift – around double what Avanti members earn.

On strike days, Avanti will run only one train an hour between London Euston and Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Preston, with a limited service from Carlisle to Glasgow.

Stoke-on-Trent, North Wales, Lancaster, Blackpool and Edinburgh will have no Avanti trains. The firm urged passengers to avoid travelling on Sundays.

The RMT said strike action was ‘the only way to focus management’s minds’. The Department for Transport was approached for comment.