No long-distance trains this Saturday as strike action continues
Great Western Railway has warned it won’t operate any long-distance services, direct trains between London Paddington and Reading nor trains on many other parts of its network this Saturday.
The Aslef union has announced strike action that will affect Great Western Railway, Chiltern Railways and other train operators on Saturday 6 April.
A reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.
Only a very limited service will run on the following GWR routes, between 0700 and around 1900:
- Reading and Oxford
- Reading and Basingstoke
- Westbury and Swindon (peak time only)
- Cardiff and Bristol Temple Meads
- Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple
- Plymouth and Gunnislake
- Penzance and St Ives
Due to engineering works, there will be no GWR trains between London Paddington and Reading. No long-distance services will operate on the GWR network, and strike action will also affect other operators.
In addition, there could be further disruption from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 and from Monday 8 to Tuesday 9 April, due to industrial action. This is likely to cause some short-notice alterations and cancellations, especially at the weekend or late at night.
A rolling programme of strike action affecting other rail operators is also due to take place between these dates, so onward travel could also be affected.
On the days after strikes, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations. If you intend to travel where trains are running, you are warned to check both outward and return journeys before you travel.
Where trains can run, they are expected to be extremely busy and bus replacement services are not able to be provided.
Customers who purchased 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 will be valid for travel on alternative days on GWR services, as follows:
- Tickets for Friday 5 April to Monday 8 April can be used the day before or up to and including Wednesday 10 April
Contact Information
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us