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Wednesday 2 Nov 2022

Rail passengers reminded to only travel if absolutely necessary ahead of three forthcoming strike days

Region & Route:

National

• Passengers are being reminded to only travel if necessary on Saturday 5, Monday 7 and Wednesday 9 November, as RMT strike action is set to severely impact train services across the country

• Disruption to services also likely in the early morning of the day after each strike – Sunday 6 November, Tuesday 8 November, and Thursday 10 November – as workers return to duties.

• Trains will start later and finish much earlier than usual on these dates, between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Those who must travel should expect disruption, plan ahead and check when their last train will depart

The rail industry is reminding passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary on these strike dates and to prepare for disruption at the start of service on the days following strike action.

Timetables for services this Saturday have been published and are live on the National Rail journey planner. Timetables for next Monday and Wednesday will be published tomorrow (Thursday) and Saturday respectively. A map illustrating the disruption is attached. 

Though disruption is unavoidable and passengers are being asked to only travel if absolutely necessary, thousands of specially-trained and fully qualified back-up staff will once again step in during the walkouts to keep vital services running for those who need them, as they have done for all previous strike days.

Trains that do run will start later in the morning and finish much earlier in the evening, and there will be no trains at all across parts of the network.

On Saturday 5 November there will be a very limited London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service running due to a combination of industrial action and engineering work, with no services travelling further south than Doncaster. London Underground and Overground services will also be disrupted on Thursday 10 November owing to industrial action. 

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: 

“It’s so frustrating that passengers are yet again facing heavy disruption or cancellations to their rail journeys because of unnecessary strike action by unions. A fair and affordable two-year 8% deal, with heavily discounted travel and an improved offer of job security to January 2025, remains on the table which could bring this dispute to an end. I understand how disappointing this disruption is for rail users, however I must ask that they only travel if absolutely necessary during strike days.”  

Steve Montgomery, chair of the Rail Delivery Group, said:  

“We’re sorry that a decision was taken by the RMT leadership to impose further strike action which will bring widespread disruption for passengers and businesses, especially affecting families planning to attend the bonfire night celebrations. It is particularly disheartening that next weekend’s strike will hit the plans of thousands of rugby fans who are planning to travel to Cardiff for Wales v New Zealand as well as the other sports fixtures happening across the country. These damaging and unnecessary strikes not only disrupt passengers’ plans and undermine struggling businesses, but also harm the industry’s recovery with the June strikes costing the hospitality sector around half a billion pounds.  

“Further strikes mean that more of our people lose pay and there is less money to fund a pay rise. We urge the unions to recognise that the railway industry is facing very real financial challenge, and work with us towards a fair deal that offers a pay rise and includes the long-overdue changes to the industry so that our services are more reliable, more affordable and inspire more passengers back on board. 

“While we will do all that we can to minimise disruption, if you are going to travel on the routes affected, please plan ahead and check the latest travel advice. Passengers with advance, off-peak or anytime tickets affected by the strikes can use their ticket for travel the day before the date on the ticket or up to and including Friday 11th November. Passengers can also change their tickets to travel on an alternate date or get a refund if their train is cancelled or rescheduled.” 

Passengers traveling to Cardiff for the Autumn International match on Saturday 5 November, are advised not to travel by train to and from the match as the RMT and TSSA strikes will see most trains across the Wales and Borders network suspended. Passengers should check with their train operator for more details and go to https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for travel updates. 

For specific train operator service information, please visit National Rail or your train operating company.

ENDS