Media centre

Friday 9 Dec 2022

Very limited train services across Wales and Border during December strikes

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

Rail passengers planning travel in Wales during upcoming strike action by multiple rail workers’ unions before and after Christmas are being warned not to get caught out with limited trains running over reduced hours. 

• Only travel by train if absolutely necessary advice issued during strike action on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December  
• Trains will be on a significantly reduced timetable, will start later from 7:30am and finish by 6.30pm 
• During those times trains will only be able to run on the south Wales mainline, East of Cardiff, and on the Core Valley Lines
• No other services across the Wales and Borders network will be able to operate on strike days
• Transport for Wales is not involved in the industrial action, however, will not be unable to operate rail services on Network Rail infrastructure

Members of the RMT, TSSA and Unite unions will all take industrial action next week on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December. 

This will involve national walkouts from staff at Network Rail.

Transport for Wales is not involved in the industrial action. However, the industrial action resulting from the dispute between the unions and Network Rail means TfW will be unable to operate rail services on Network Rail infrastructure. 

Passengers should expect disruption from 18 December until 2 January, with wide variations on service provision, due to an overtime ban across 14 train operating companies imposed by the RMT. 

Christmas Eve will also see services stop significantly earlier than usual because of further strikes announced by the RMT. 

As well as checking www.nationalrail.co.uk on impacts to journeys, rail travellers should also visit individual train operators to find out how the strike action is affecting their services. 

• Transport for Wales’ information page 
• GWR’s information page 
• Avanti West Coast’s information page 
• West Midlands Railways' information page 
• CrossCountry’s information page 

Nick Millington, interim route director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “It’s very disappointing that these strikes are going ahead following months of negotiations so I would like to apologise to passengers, once again, for the disruption they face over the festive period. 

“We’ll continue to run the best service possible for those people whose travel is absolutely necessary, but with services extremely limited on strike days, I’d urge everyone to really consider other options.

"Any trains which do run will be very busy and will finish by early evening.” 

Those who still must travel should check www.nationalrail.co.uk, so they know exactly what to expect.