When is the next rail strike?
The RMT union has announced four 24-hour strikes – on Thursday 16 and Saturday 18 March, and Thursday 30 March and Saturday 1 April.
During the period a revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR, and those traveling are being warned to check both their outward and return journeys.
GWR warns that on strike days (Thursday 16 and Saturday 18 March) only an extremely reduced service will operate on a limited number of routes. The train operator is telling people that many parts of its network will have no service at all. Services will also start later and finish earlier and journeys will need to be completed before 18:30.
Those travelling are advised to check their journey, and online journey planners have been updated accordingly. Please visit www.gwr.com/strike for details.
Passengers are warned that trains will be busier than usual because there will not be the normal service frequency. Other train operators are also affected by this action, so onward travel could also be affected.
On Sunday 2 April, Plymouth Argyle take on Bolton Wanderers at Wembley and all direct trains between Plymouth and London Paddington before and after the match will be reservation only – you must have a seat reservation to travel on these trains. To help people board safely a queuing system will be in place at Plymouth and London Paddington. Customers without seat reservations will not be able to board reservation only trains.
Where trains can operate, they are expected to be extremely busy and bus replacement services are not able to be provided.
GWR is set to provide extra trains for the majority of this year’s Cheltenham Festival but warns that the planned strike action will mean an extremely limited service will run on Thursday 16 March and Saturday 18 March and customers are warned to seek alternative ways to travel to/from the racecourse.
To help, those who have purchased rail 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. Tickets will be valid for travel on alternative days on GWR services as follows:
- Tickets for Thursday 16 and Saturday 18 March can be used on the day before or up to and including Tuesday 21 March
- Tickets for Thursday 30 March and Saturday 1 April can be used on the day before or up to and including Tuesday 4 April
Season-ticket holders can apply for compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.
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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