Rail strikes to severely affect travel with no services operating on many routes
Industrial action by the RMT and TSSA unions will severely affect trains across the GWR network this week, with services unable to operate across many routes.
The action is planned for Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 August, with days immediately after the strike days also affected. A significantly reduced temporary timetable has been put in place.
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 many routes.
On strike days an extremely limited service will operate between 0700 and 1830, and last trains will leave much earlier. Where trains are able to operate, they will be extremely busy.
GWR has said it will operate as many trains as possible during the strike action, however the following travel advice is in place over the strike period:
Tuesday 16 August
A normal timetable will operate.
Wednesday 17 August
Trains will run as planned with some minor changes to late-night services. Please check before you travel.
Thursday 18 August
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
- West of Exeter towards Plymouth/Cornwall
- 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
- Greenford branch line
- North Downs line (Reading–Gatwick Airport)
Please check before you travel.
Friday 19 August
Trains will continue to be disrupted. Please make alternative travel arrangements and only
travel if absolutely necessary.
Trains will start later and there will be a reduced level of service throughout the day. Please
check before you travel.
Saturday 20 August
An extremely limited service will operate. Services will start later and finish much earlier than
normal.
No rail services will operate on the following routes:
- No trains will operate in/out of Bristol Temple Meads
- Between Bristol Temple Meads to Swindon
- Between Bristol and Gloucester
- Between Bristol and Taunton
- All lines in Cornwall, including all branch lines
- West of Newton Abbot (change at Exeter) towards Plymouth/Cornwall
- All branch lines in Devon (Barnstaple, Exmouth, Paignton, Okehampton)
- South Wales main line (Carmarthen/Swansea–Cardiff Central)
- Berks & Hants line (between Reading–Bruton)
- Wessex main line (Bath Spa–Portsmouth Harbour)
- Heart of Wessex line (Westbury–Weymouth)
- TransWilts line (trains will only operate non-stop between Swindon and Westbury)
- Severn Beach line (Bristol Temple Meads–Severn Beach)
- North Cotswolds line (Hereford/Worcester–Oxford)
- South Cotswolds line (Cheltenham Spa–Swindon)
- Worcester/Gloucester
- Greenford branch line
- North Downs line (Reading–Gatwick Airport)
Please check before you travel.
Sunday 21 August
Trains will start later, however a normal level of service is expected. Please check before you travel. Trains are expected to be extremely busy.
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. Season ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.
Where the company can run trains, they are expected to be extremely busy. GWR is not able to provide bus replacement services.
To help customers, people with tickets for travel on Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 can travel on the day before and up to and including Tuesday 23 August.
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 16 August |
Non-strike day |
Up to date |
|
Wednesday 17 August |
Non-strike day |
Up to date |
|
Thursday 18 August |
Strike day |
Up to date |
|
Friday 19 August |
Non-strike day |
Up to date |
|
Saturday 20 August |
Strike day |
Up to date |
|
Sunday 21 August |
Non-strike day |
Up to date |
|
Monday 22 August |
Non-strike day |
|
GWR’s refund policy and Book with Confidence policy remains in place. If you hold a return ticket, you can claim a refund of your unused full fare, even if only one leg of your journey is affected.
Contact Information
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