Update from GTR on Industrial Action

There is a six day impact with importantly, the day after each strike day disrupted by a late start to services – trains cannot start moving in any location until after 07:15, meaning in practice that first trains will be later depending on distances from depots and starting locations.

On Saturday 5^th, Monday 7^th and Wednesday 9^th, RMT union members will take strike action at Network Rail, with strike action affecting train operators on the 5^th and 9^th. With the exception of engineering work, there is no difference in service between the three days. As with previous RMT strike dates, each strike date will see a very limited service operating, with many stations and routes entirely closed. This is because critical staff such as signallers and emergency response staff will be unavailable.  Network Rail has some contingency cover, but this is only available for mainlines and will only allow for the railway to safely open for a limited period.

As a result, our advice to customers on the 5^th, 7^th and 9th, regrettably, is to travel by rail only if their journey is absolutely necessary, and to warn that where routes are open, first trains will run after 07:15 and last trains will start to depart from 16:30. Many customers will need to make alternative arrangements.

Previously planned engineering work on Saturday 5^th between Bedford and St Pancras International and in the Selhurst / Crystal Palace area will still take place to prevent disrupting customers later in the year.

Day by day information – “Days after”

On Sunday 6^th, Tuesday 8^th and Thursday 10^th, the strike has a knock-on impact because essential services such as signalling will not be available until after 07:15 which is when the day shift signs on for duty. This means that the first trains will not begin their journeys until after 07:15 and significantly later in many locations depending on the distance from depots.

The “day after” service will be the planned service for the day – so the Tuesday timetable will be a modified version of a normal Tuesday timetable (in previous strike periods, a modified “Sunday” timetable was used). However, the late start will be disruptive, particularly in locations where the “first train” is formed by a service that is travelling a considerable distance before arriving at the station. It is essential that customers plan on the basis of a late start to morning services.

One additional caveat, is that while weather conditions are currently very mild, we are in the peak of the traditional leaf-fall season, which can cause difficulties with rail adhesion and interference with the electrical connection between trains and track. While unlikely at this stage, if the weather forecast worsens, it may be required to run rail head treatment trains before passenger services can run, especially on routes that were closed the previous day, which would result in a delay to service start-up on a route by route basis. If this is the case, we will provide as much notice as possible.

Journey planning information

Customers can plan their journeys at www.nationalrail.co.uk