A NUMBER of rail operators have announced their service timetables for the upcoming industrial action due next week.
Industrial action is currently planned by members of the RMT union for Tuesday-Wednesday, December 13-14, and Friday-Saturday, December 16-17.
It is also expected that Thursday, December 15, and Sunday, December 18, will be severely impacted by delays.
Network Rail estimates that during strike days the rail industry will be able to run about 20% of services on around half of the network.
Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, Transport for London, and Network Rail have all made service announcements regarding their levels of operation during the strikes.
Great Western Railway
On strike days only “an extremely reduced service” will operate on limited routes, with no services across the rest of the network.
Services will start later than usual at 7.30am and all services will finish at 6.30pm.
On the days between the strikes a reduced timetable will operate and trains will start later.
On the days after the strikes trains will start later, and passengers are advised to expect short-notice cancellations.
Customers are advised that tickets bought for strike days can be returned for a full refund or amended via the GWR website.
Tickets will also be made valid for other travel days, with tickets for December 13, 14, 16, and 17 can be used the day before or up to and including Tuesday, December 20.
Tickets for December 24 and 27 can be used the day before where applicable, or up to and including Thursday, December 29.
Tickets for January 3, 4, 6, and 7 can be used the day before or up to and including Tuesday, January 10.
Full details should be checked via the GWR website: www.gwr.com
South Western Railway
South Western Railway’s reduced timetable will run from 7.15am-6.30pm on Tuesday-Wednesday, December 13-14, and Friday-Saturday, December 16-17.
Four trains will run per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Windsor and Eton Riverside
Two semi-fast trains will run per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Basingstoke
Four trains will run per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Woking
Two fast trains will run per hour in each direction between London Waterloo and Southampton Central
Trains will not stop at all the stations on these routes and there will be no SWR services across the rest of the network.
For full information on SWR services, visit: www.southwesternrailway.com
Network Rail
Network Rail has announced that it will see severe disruption during the planned industrial action.
On strike days a limited service will operate on busier routes across the South, starting later than usual and finishing earlier than usual.
Some lines will not open at all and there will be no replacement bus services available.
Trains will start later, after 7am, on the days after strikes.
Overtime bans by the RMT will also see the network subject to last minute cancellations from Tuesday, December 13 through, Tuesday, January 2.
For its Christmas services, Network Rail said: “We’re expecting difficulties on Christmas Eve and 27 December, but are still working through the extent of what it means for train services.
“Passengers will need to check nearer the time as to what services will be available.”
Full details of Network Rail’s strike services can be found via: www.networkrail.co.uk
Transport for London
Transport for London has announced that “most” of its services are going to continue to run during Christmas and New Year, except for Christmas Day and with no services on some parts of the network on Boxing Day.
Industrial action will have some effect on the TfL network, but only limited disruption is expected.
TfL services can be checked via: tfl.gov.uk
The RMT has announced that its members have been instructed not to book any overtime from Sunday, December 18 to Monday, January 2.
SWR has said that it will update customers once it has “confirmed what service levels can be provided” during this period.
South Western Railway’s Performance and Planning Director, Steve Tyler, said: “We appreciate that customers will be eager to enjoy the festive season, so we’re really sorry that we must urge them to only travel by rail if absolutely necessary from Tuesday 13 December to Sunday 18 December.
“The nationwide strike action means we can only operate a severely reduced timetable from 07:15 to 18:30 only, with much of the network closed entirely.
“The strike period will be followed by two weeks of further disruption on the network, as the RMT has instructed their members not to book any overtime until 2 January.
“After months of damaging strike action, we are grateful to our customers for their continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as the rail industry works to bring this dispute to an end.”
John Halsall, Network Rail’s Southern managing director, said: “I’m so sorry for everyone who will be affected by the further strikes over Christmas and the New Year.
“We really wanted to avoid disruption over this busy period and want to reassure passengers that we’re doing everything we can to plan to run as many services as we can.
“There will be far fewer trains than usual, and only on mainline routes.
“Regrettably, the strong advice is to travel only if absolutely necessary on these dates and check for the latest updates before setting out.”
