Rail passengers are being warned of huge disruption next week with thousands of rail workers set to walk out in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions. Strikes are due to take place on Wednesday, July 27 and Saturday, July 30.
The majority of GWR train services will not operate on those days and there will be no services on some routes. The company is advising passengers to find alternative ways to travel.
Members of the RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) will walk out first on July 27, followed by a strike by members of the Aslef train drivers union at eight companies on July 30. You can get more travel news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Great Western Railway has warned that next week’s action will “severely affect” services with a significantly reduced temporary timetable in place. The RMT has also announced two more planned strikes on August 18 and 20 by 40,000 workers at Network Rail and 14 train operating companies.
GWR said it would operate “as many trains as possible during the strike action” but an "extremely limited service" only will run between 7am and 6.30pm on July 27 and 30. Last trains will leave much earlier on both days and services before and after strike days will also be affected.
This is how GWR services will be affected next week:
Tuesday, July 26
Trains will run as planned with some minor changes to late night services. Passengers are advised to check before travelling.
Wednesday, July 27
A significantly limited service will operate. Passengers are advised to 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
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–Bristol
Greenford branch line
North Downs line (Reading–Gatwick Airport)
South Coast (Westbury–Southampton/Portmouth Harbour)
Thursday, July 28
Trains will continue to be disrupted and passengers are again advised to make alternative travel arrangements and only travel if absolutely necessary.
Friday, July 29
A normal timetable will operate.
Saturday, July 30
The Aslef strike among GWR train drivers on Saturday, July 30, will have an even greater impact, and most parts of the GWR network will have no train service.
GWR said an “extremely limited service only” will operate on the routes below and services will start later and finish much earlier than normal:
Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington
Bristol Temple Meads-Cardiff Central
Reading to Oxford
Reading to Basingstoke
No other GWR services will run.
Sunday, July 31
Disruption is likely and passengers are advised to check before travelling.
What to do if you already have tickets but there is no service
GWR said people who had already purchased tickets for strike days could claim a full refund or amend their ticket. People who travel and are delayed might be entitled to compensation if they are delayed by 15 minutes or more. Season ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme. Bus replacement services won’t run.
GWR is allowing people with tickets for travel on strike days to be able to travel on the day before and up to and including Tuesday, August 2. Further disruption is expected next month with the RMT planning two further strikes on August 18 and August 20.
Why are rail staff striking?
Union leaders have rejected Network Rail's below inflation pay offer of a 4% pay rise with another 2% next year and a further two per cent on condition of “modernisation milestones”. Unions want a rise inline with inflation which is nearly running at 10% in the UK now.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said the offer from Network Rail represented a real terms pay cut and that strike action was the only course of action after negotiations failed.
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