Operators outline their services during strike action

Train operating companies have said they are preparing for the upcoming strikes, reducing their timetables and altering their services.

ASLEF drivers will strike on Saturday 13 August, RMT on Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August.

SWR

SWR’s reduced timetable will run from 07:15 to 18:30 on the 18 and 20 August strike days, and will consist of:  

• Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside via Hounslow 
• Two semi-fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Basingstoke 
• Four trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Woking 
• Two fast trains per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Southampton Central 

Trains will not stop at all the stations on these routes. There will be no SWR services across the rest of the network. 

TfL Underground and Overground services will be affected by strikes all day on Friday 19 August, with some bus services disrupted on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 August. Accordingly, connections with SWR services in London are likely to be impacted, or not run at all. 

SWR has said it will not be affected by the planned ASLEF strike action on Saturday 13 August, but some other train companies will be, so customers should check before they travel.    

Avanti West Coast

Avanti is stepping down its service from Sunday to levels it describes as similar to those during the Omicron COVID-19 outbreak. It says this is due to the current industrial relations climate which has resulted in severe staff shortages in some grades through increased sickness levels, as well as unofficial strike action by ASLEF members.

Manchester- One train per hour to Manchester; calling at Milton Keynes, Stoke on Trent, Macclesfield and Stockport.
West Midlands and Edinburgh/Blackpool – One train per hour to Wolverhampton, calling at Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Sandwell and Dudley, Wolverhampton, Crewe, Warrington, Wigan, and Preston.
One train every two hours will continue to Edinburgh, and one train every two hours will continue to Blackpool or terminate at Preston.
Glasgow – One train per hour going direct to Glasgow, calling at Crewe, Warrington, Wigan, Preston, then stopping points as in the current timetable.
Liverpool – One train per hour going direct to Liverpool, calling at Stafford, Crewe, and Runcorn.
Holyhead/Chester, Shrewsbury/Wrexham – Shuttles between Holyhead and Crewe. Limited service but with connectivity to Shrewsbury and Wrexham.

TfL

Action will affect the London Overground network, where there will be no service due to strike action from members of the ASLEF union who work for Arriva Rail London.

There will also be no Night Overground services on the evening of 13 August. A full Night Tube service will operate on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines. Customers who use London Overground services should use alternative routes to complete their journeys.  Full information is available at tfl.gov.uk/strikes.

There are planned weekend closures on the entire Hammersmith & City line and no service between Tower Hill and Upminster on the District line. On Saturday 13 August there will be no service between Prince Regent and Beckton on the DLR for engineering works. All other TfL modes of transport will run as normal but are expected to be much busier than normal as customers seek alternative routes.

Customers travelling on the morning of Sunday 14 August are advised a good service is expected on the London Overground by midday. If travelling before midday, customers are advised to plan ahead, check before they travel, and leave more time for their journeys.

GWR

GWR has said it will operate as many trains as possible during the strike action, however the following travel advice is in place over the strike period: 
 
Friday 12 August 
Trains will run as planned but will be busy, and with some minor changes to late night services. Please check before you travel. Those travelling to the Boardmasters Festival can check their journey here.
 
Saturday 13 August 
An extremely limited service will only operate on the routes below. Services will start later and finish much earlier than normal. 
 

• Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 
• Reading to Oxford 
• Reading to Basingstoke 

No other GWR services will run. 
 
Sunday 14 August 
Trains will continue to be severely disrupted, especially on long-distance intercity routes, please make alternative travel arrangements and only travel if absolutely necessary. 
 
There will be no service on the following route: 
 

• Oxford to Worcester/Hereford 

A reduced service frequency will operate on other long-distance routes: 
 

• London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads 
• London Paddington to Swansea 
• London Paddington to Plymouth/Penzance (inc via the Kennet Valley) 
• London Paddington to Oxford 

Local stopping services will operate. Please check before you travel. 
 
Monday 15 August 
A normal timetable will operate. 
 
Tuesday 16 August 
A normal timetable will operate. 
 
Wednesday 17 August 
Trains will run as planned with some minor changes to late night services. Please check before you travel. 
 
Thursday 18 August 
A significantly limited service will operate please make alternative travel arrangements and only travel if absolutely necessary. 
 
No rail services will operate on the following routes: 
  

• All lines in Cornwall, including all branch lines 
• West of Newton Abbot (change at Exeter) towards Plymouth/Cornwall (due to no contingency signallers) 
• All branch lines in Devon (Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton, Okehampton) 
• South Wales main line (Carmarthen/Swansea–Cardiff Central) 
• Berks & Hants line (Reading–Taunton via Castle Cary) 
• Wessex main line (Bath Spa–Portsmouth Harbour) 
• Heart of Wessex line (Westbury–Weymouth) 
• TransWilts line (Swindon–Westbury via Melksham) 
• Severn Beach line (Bristol Temple Meads–Severn Beach) 
• North Cotswolds line (Hereford/Worcester–Oxford) 
• South Cotswolds line (Cheltenham Spa–Swindon) 
• Worcester/Gloucester 
• Greenford branch line 
• North Downs line (Reading–Gatwick Airport) 

Please check before you travel. 
 
Friday 19 August 
Trains will continue to be disrupted, please make alternative travel arrangements and only travel if absolutely necessary. 
 
Trains will start later and there will be a reduced level of service throughout the day. Please check before you travel. 
 
Saturday 20 August 
An extremely limited service will operate. Services will start later and finish much earlier than normal. 
 
No rail services will operate on the following routes: 
  

• Between Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington 
• Between Cardiff and Bath 
• Between Bristol and Gloucester 
• Between Bristol and Exeter 
• All lines in Cornwall, including all branch lines 
• West of Newton Abbot (change at Exeter) towards Plymouth/Cornwall 
• All branch lines in Devon (Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton, Okehampton) 
• South Wales main line (Carmarthen/Swansea–Cardiff Central) 
• Berks & Hants line (Reading–Taunton via Castle Cary) 
• Wessex main line (Bath Spa–Portsmouth Harbour) 
• Heart of Wessex line (Westbury–Weymouth) 
• TransWilts line (Swindon–Westbury via Melksham) 
• Severn Beach line (Bristol Temple Meads–Severn Beach) 
• North Cotswolds line (Hereford/Worcester–Oxford) 
• South Cotswolds line (Cheltenham Spa–Swindon) 
• Worcester/Gloucester 
• Greenford branch line 
• North Downs line (Reading–Gatwick Airport) 

Please check before you travel. 

Sunday 21 August
Trains will start later, however a normal level of service is expected. Please check before you travel. 

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