RAIL STRIKES will return to Berkshire next week, with a week of disruption to services expected.
There will be delays and cancellations to services from Monday, January 29, all the way through to Tuesday, February 6, as train drivers’ union, Aslef, resume industrial action. It will affect services run by GWR, CrossCountry and Chiltern Railways services on Monday 5 February.
Significant disruption is expected on Sunday, February 4, and Monday, February 5, when many parts of the GWR network will have no train services.
GWR, which runs services through Reading stations, said customers travelling during this period should check both outward and return journeys before travelling.
From Monday, January 29, to Saturday, February 3, GWR says it will operate a near normal level of service, with some short notice changes and cancellations.
For the main strike days of February 4 and 5, customers are encouraged to travel on alternative dates, as a reduced timetable will operate, and some parts of the network will have no service.
There will be a knock-on effect on Tuesday, February 6, including some cancellations and changes to the first services of the day.
The advice is check before you travel as trains that are operating will be busier than usual because GWR will not be able to offer the normal service frequency, nor will they offer replacement buses.
Other train operators are also affected by strike action, so onward travel could also be affected.
Customers who have bought tickets but do not travel can claim a full refund or amend their ticket.
Those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to Delay Repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 minutes or more.
To help customers, tickets for strike days between Tuesday, January 30, to Monday, February 5, can be used to travel from Monday, January 29, up to and including Wednesday, February 7.
Online journey planners are being updated. For more details, log on to: www.gwr.com/strike
