Rail services to be severely affected next week as more strike action looms
Planned industrial action by the RMT, Aslef and the TSSA unions means GWR expects rail services to be severely affected on Wednesday 27 and Saturday 30 July, and a significantly reduced temporary timetable will be in place.
On both strike days an extremely limited service will operate between 0700 and 1830, and last trains will leave much earlier. Due to the timing of the strike action, services after strike days will also be affected.
Passengers are advised to find alternative ways to travel on these days. Only travel if absolutely necessary. The majority of train services will not operate and there will be no services on some routes.
GWR will operate as many trains as possible during the strike action, however the following travel advice is in place over the strike period:
Tuesday 26 July
Trains will run as planned with some minor changes to late night services. Please check before you travel.
Wednesday 27 July
A significantly limited service will operate please 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/Portsmouth Harbour)
Thursday 28 July
Trains will continue to be disrupted, please make alternative travel arrangements, and only travel if absolutely necessary.
Friday 29 July
A normal timetable will operate.
Saturday 30 July
The Aslef strike among GWR train drivers will have an even greater impact, and most parts of the GWR network will have no train service.
Sunday 31 July
Disruption is likely, please check before you travel.
I have tickets what should I do?
Customers who have already purchased tickets for travel on 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. Season ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.
Where we are able to run services, they are expected to be extremely busy. We are not able to provide bus replacement services.
To help customers, 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 2 August.
We are working to update journey planners with the changes to our timetable as soon as we are able to. Online journey checkers are expected to be updated with the latest timetable information as per below:
|
Date |
Strike day/non-strike day |
Passenger information published |
|
Tuesday 26 July |
Non-strike day Last services subject to changes. Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Saturday 23 July |
|
Wednesday 27 July |
Strike day Severely reduced service. |
Saturday 23 July |
|
Thursday 28 July |
Non-strike day Services will start from 0700. Reduced timetable in place. Sleeper operates Thursday evening. |
Sunday 24 July |
|
Friday 29 July |
Non-strike day Full normal service. Sleeper service is cancelled. |
Monday 25 July |
|
Saturday 30 July |
Strike day Severely reduced service. |
Tuesday 26 July |
|
Sunday 31 July |
Non-strike day Disruption is likely. |
Wednesday 27 July |
The company's refund policy and Book with Confidence policy will remain in place and their website will be updated with the latest information if the situation changes.
For the very latest information please visit: www.gwr.com/strike
The RMT has also announced further strike dates on Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August.
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