It comes after rail workers announced plans to walk out over the Christmas and new year period in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
Members of the RMT union will strike from 13-14 and 16-17 December, with the action set to continue in the new year over 3-4 and 6-7 January.
In response, Clive Wratten, chief executive of the BTA, urged the government and the RMT Union to "get around the table and have meaningful conversations", thereby avoiding "Christmas being railroaded".
"The timing of this announcement could not be worse for British businesses," he added. "Companies had just begun to return to the railway network after a summer of disruption.
"This will damage corporate confidence and undermine essential economic activity."
