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Tuesday 16 Aug 2022

Passengers urged to plan ahead and only travel by train if absolutely necessary on 18 and 20 August due to continued national industrial action

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Around 20% of rail services will be able to run on Network Rail’s Western route on the upcoming strike days with most trains starting later and finishing much earlier than usual - between 7.30am and 6.30pm 

The National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT) and the TSSA union have announced strike action will take place on Thursday (18 August) and Saturday (20 August), with severe disruption expected and some routes completely closed across the whole of the UK. 

Specially trained and fully qualified back-up staff will again step in during the walkout to keep vital services running. 

Great Western Railway (GWR) will be running a significantly reduced number of trains on the Western route with a revised timetable in place. 

Thursday 18 August 

No rail services will operate on the following routes: 

• All lines in Cornwall, including all branch lines 
• West of Newton Abbot (change at Exeter) towards Plymouth/Cornwall (due to no contingency signallers) 
• 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) 

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 

No trains will stop at Bristol Temple Meads on Saturday 20 August. The station will be closed all day.

No rail services will operate on the following routes: 

• Between Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington 
• Between Cardiff and Bath 
• Between Bristol and Gloucester 
• Between Bristol and Exeter 
• All lines in Cornwall, including all branch lines 
• West of Newton Abbot (change at Exeter) towards Plymouth/Cornwall (due to no contingency signallers) 
• 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) 

Passengers are also advised that there is likely to be some disruption on the days after each strike - Friday 19 August and Sunday 21 August - as workers return to duties. 

Mike Gallop, route director at Network Rail Western said: “It’s really disappointing that we’re having to ask passengers, once again, not to travel by train for two days due to unnecessary strike action.  

“We’ll be running as many services as we safely can for those who absolutely need to travel by train, but we are urging everyone to plan ahead, check their journey and expect severe disruption.” 

Passengers can get ticket refunds if they are unable to travel on the strike days and can also use their tickets on alternative days. Passengers should check with their train operator for more details and go to https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for travel updates.