Railway strikes continue to cause disruption

SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) has confirmed its services for the upcoming industrial action.

On Saturday, 29th July, a significantly reduced service will operate on a limited number of lines due to strike action by the RMT union.

Large parts of the SWR network will be closed, and trains will only run between 0700 and 1900. The last trains of the day will depart from around 1700.

One train an hour is planned to run from Salisbury to Basingstoke on this day. In addition to this :

• Two trains from Salisbury to London Waterloo will run at 0715 and 1515
• Two trains from London Waterloo to Salisbury will run at 0910 and 1725

Customers should only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary. If customers intend to travel, they should check their entire journey using journey planners, which are now up to date, as other train operators will also be affected.

Between Monday, 31st July and Saturday, 5th August, a reduced timetable will operate across the SWR network due to industrial action by the ASLEF union.

We are being advised that we should check before we travel.

Journey planners will be updated on Friday, 28 July, and we are advised to check their entire journey, as other train operators will be affected.

Services through Salisbury are largely expected to run as usual during this time, though cancellations may happen at short notice.

The last trains of the day will depart earlier than usual, and customers are advised to check before travelling.

Journey planners will be updated after Friday, 28th July.

Full information regarding services on Saturday, 29th July and between Monday, 31st July and Saturday, 5th August, is available at southwesternrailway.com/strike.

Further industrial action by the ASLEF union has been announced between Monday 7 and Saturday 12 August.

Information on SWR services during this period will be confirmed in due course.

Stuart Meek, South Western Railway’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “I am sorry to say that strike action by the RMT union and industrial action by the ASLEF union will affect our services in the coming weeks.

“On Saturday 29 July, strike action by the RMT union will mean that we will operate a significantly reduced service with large parts of our network closed. Customers should only travel if their journeys are absolutely necessary. Customers should also note the times of the last trains of the day, which will be much earlier than usual.

“A ban on overtime working by the ASLEF union will then affect our network between Monday 31 July and Saturday 5 August. A reduced timetable will operate across our network and customers should check before they travel.

“We have started planning for the ASLEF union overtime ban that will take place between Monday 7 and Saturday 12 August. Services during this period will be announced in due course.“