Planned strikes for the next few days will impact trains running through Bristol, GWR has confirmed today. The Aslef union has announced strike action that will affect rail services on Friday 12 May, Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, and the RMT has announced strike action that will affect services on Saturday 13 May.
In addition, there will be further disruption from Monday 15 to Saturday 20 May and on Saturday 13 May and Thursday 1 June, due to industrial action short of a strike. This action short of strike is likely to cause some short-notice alterations or cancellations and Great Western Railway is urging passengers to check their journeys before setting out.
On the strike days, a reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all. Services will start later and only operate for a limited period during the day.
Read more: Recap on Bristol school strikes
During action short of a strike and the days after strikes, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations. Customers who have already purchased tickets for strike days 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 will be valid for travel on alternative days on GWR services as follows:
- Tickets for Friday 12 May or Saturday 13 May can be used on Thursday 11 May or up to and including Tuesday 16 May
- Tickets for Wednesday 31 May can be used on the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Friday 2 June
- Tickets for Saturday 3 June can be used on the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Tuesday 6 June
Season-ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme. The following travel advice is in place:
Thursday 11 May
Trains will run as planned with some minor changes to late-night services. The Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate.
Friday 12 May – Strike Day
An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 07:30 and must be completed by around 18:30.
A very limited service will run only on the following routes between:
- London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads
- Reading to Didcot (for connecting bus replacement services towards Oxford)
- Reading to Basingstoke
- Reading to Redhill
- Westbury to Swindon in peak times only
- Cardiff to Bristol
- Plymouth to Gunnislake
Trains that are operating will be busier than usual and the Night Riviera Sleeper service will not operate.
Saturday 13 May – Strike Day
An extremely limited service will operate. There will be a reduced operating window; services will start at 07:30 and must be completed by around 18:30.
A very limited service will run only on the following routes between:
- London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, extending to Plymouth every other hour
- London Paddington to Didcot Parkway (for connecting bus replacement services towards Oxford)
- London Paddington to Cardiff
- Gloucester to Swindon
- London Paddington to Newbury
- West Ealing to Greenford
- Slough to Windsor
- Twyford to Henley-on-Thames
- Reading to Basingstoke
- Reading to Bedwyn
- Reading to Redhill
- Cardiff to Westbury (via Bristol Parkway)
- Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth
- Exmouth to Paignton
- Penzance to Plymouth
Sunday 14 May
Trains will run as planned with some minor changes to service start-up but the Night Riviera Sleeper service will resume.
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